Former U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard endorsed presidential nominee Donald Trump at the National Guard conference on Monday.  I am proud to stand here before you today — whether you’re a Democrat, Republican, or an Independent — if you love our country as I do, if you cherish peace and freedom as we do, I invite you to join me in doing all that we can to save our country and elect president Donald J. Trump and send him back to the White House to do the tough work of saving our country and serving the people. Before the conference, Gabbard joined Trump at Arlington National Cemetery, where he honored the 13 service members who were killed in Kabul three years ago during the Afghanistan withdrawals. “I know that President Trump understands the grave responsibility that a president and commander-in-chief bears for every single one of our lives …. He keeps us in his heart in the decisions that he makes.” Gabbard said.  The 2020 presidential candidate and combat veteran further praised Trump’s record during his 2016 presidential term, citing how he took action to prevent wars and meet with foreign leaders. “We cannot be prosperous unless we are at peace. We cannot live free as long as we have a government that is retaliating against its political opponents and undermining our civil liberties — weaponizing our very institutions against those they deem as a threat,” Gabbard said. Having served as Hawaii’s House Representative from 2013 to 2021 as a member of the Democratic party, Gabbard denounced her allegiance to the party in 2022. In her video announcement on X, she stated that the party is “now under the complete control of an elitist cabal of warmongers driven by cowardly wokeness, who divide us by racializing every issue and & stoking anti-white racism, who actively work to undermine our God-given freedoms that are enshrined in our Constitution.”   Gabbard’s endorsement comes shortly after former Democrat, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., withdrew from the presidential race and endorsed Trump. (READ MORE: Kennedy Endorses Trump, Media Endorses Kamala) The post Tulsi Gabbard Endorses Donald Trump appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

Are you ready to “eat the bugs”?  For a long time, we have been told that “eating the bugs” is just a “conspiracy theory”, but as you will see below more than 2 billion people around the world already eat bugs on a regular basis.  More than 2,000 types of edible insects are being consumed, and bug ingredients are increasingly being used in common foods that we purchase in the grocery stores.  In fact, you could potentially be consuming products that contain insect ingredients without even realizing it.  So anyone that tries to tell you that “eating the bugs” is a conspiracy theory is not being honest with you.  The following are 12 facts that prove that people all over the globe are already “eating the bugs” on a regular basis… #1 According to the United Nations, there are over 2 billion people that eat insects as part of their normal diets right now… More than 2 billion people worldwide consume insects regularly, according to the United Nations, which a decade ago began pushing pests as a sustainable super-protein for humans, pets, and livestock that can benefit the environment and create jobs in developing countries. #2 A report that was recently published in a major scientific journal says that 2,205 different kinds of insects are now being consumed all over the globe… A 2024 report titled “The global atlas of edible insects: analysis of diversity and commonality contributing to food systems and sustainability,” has identified 2205 species consumed across 128 countries. Published in the science journal Nature, it notes that Asia has the highest number of edible insects (932 species), followed by North America (mainly Mexico), and Africa. The countries with the highest consumption of insect are Mexico (452 species), Thailand (272 species), India (262 species), China (235 species), and Japan (123 species). #3 According to CNN, Singapore has just approved 16 different types of edible insects “for sale and consumption”… Singapore’s state food agency has approved 16 species of edible insects for sale and consumption in the country, according to a July 8 public circular addressed to food traders. “With immediate effect, SFA will allow the import of insects and insect products belonging to species that have been assessed to be of low regulatory concern,” the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said in its release. Insects approved by the SFA include locusts, grasshoppers, mealworms and several species of beetle. “These insects and insect products can be used for human consumption or as animal feed for food-producing animals,” SFA said, adding that insects could not be “harvested from the wild.” #4 The largest insect farm in the entire world is located in France… In Europe, France is the center of European insect farming for animal and plant feed; a biotechnology company, InnovaFeed owns the world’s largest insect farm at 55,000 sqm that produces 15,000 tons of protein a year. #5 In April 2024, InnovaFeed opened an absolutely enormous “research and innovation center focused on insects” in Decatur, Illinois… More recently, in April 2024, Innovafeed inaugurated its first research and innovation center focused on insects in North America: the NAIIC (North American Insect Innovation Center), with the presence of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. #6 An app that allows Germans to scan food products at the grocery store indicates that a whole host of things that Germans regularly eat have bug parts in them… A German app called Insekten Scanner scans the barcode of a food product to tell you whether it includes insect parts in the ingredients. The app, which was first developed in late 2023 and now has over 100,000 downloads, recently went viral on X after several viral posts caused outrage among Americans. The account Wall Street Silver (@WallStreetSilv) posted a video on May 2 of a user in a German supermarket scanning items with the app, which they captioned “‘We will NOT eat the bugs’ has become reality.” In the video, the user repeatedly receives the message “Insekten Gefunden” or “Insects Found.” Items include pudding cups, premade meals, and even chocolate candies. “Everything has bugs,” one user replied. #7 The very first “insect restaurant” in the United Kingdom is getting a lot of attention for the very unique dishes that it is offering to customers… Grub Kitchen in Wales, the United Kingdom’s first insect restaurant, focuses on sustainability and is the vision of chef Andy Holcroft. The menu ranges from minced insect Bolognese to mealworm hummus and mixed insect pakoras fried with vegetables and served with mango chutney. Grub Kitchen largely has good reviews on TripAdvisor, but one reviewer was sceptical of eating insects, writing: “If this is the future, kill me now.” #8 There are numerous websites that now offer insect-based products to U.S. consumers.  One of those websites claims that “crickets contain 10 times more vitamin B12 than beef”… Different types of insects contain different amounts of nutrients, but they tend to be dense in protein, iron and calcium among other nutrients. MightyCricket, a US-based website that sells cricket powder, says crickets contain 10 times more vitamin B12 than beef. #9 It is being reported that Thailand already has over 20,000 insect farms… According to the Trade Policy and Strategy Office, Thailand can produce over 7,000 tonnes of economic insects annually. Thailand has more than 20,000 insect farms, especially cricket farms, the office said. #10 In one region of India, silkworms are so popular that they are “available at every market”… Silkworms are considered a delicacy in some northeastern states of India. In Nagaland, a state on the Myanmar border, silkworms are available at every market. Known as “eri puka” in Nagamese, the silkworms are fried, tossed together with spices, vegetables and bamboo shoots. Crispy fried grasshopper is also a common snack in the state. #11 Here in the United States, more than 2 million taxpayer dollars were spent to create “the Center for Environmental Sustainability Through Insect Farming”… In 2021 the U.S. National Science Foundation awarded Texas A&M and two other universities a $2.2 million grant to establish the Center for Environmental Sustainability Through Insect Farming. Sixteen multinational companies, including Mars and Tyson Foods, also joined as member organizations. #12 Insect protein has become a multi-billion dollar industry in North America, and it is being projected that it will experience tremendous growth during the years ahead… The North American insect protein market was valued at nearly $48 billion in 2023, according to Data Bridge Market Research. It’s projected to reach over $274 billion by 2031. Are you starting to get the picture? It won’t be too long before bug parts are in most of our processed foods, and they aren’t even trying to hide what they have planned.  The following comes from a Bloomberg editorial entitled “You Will Eat Bugs — and Like It”… Picture this: It’s the year 2093. Your great, great grandaughter is hosting a dinner party for her friends tonight in honor of the total solar eclipse. She starts on the bug board, taking care to assemble the tinned locusts. The hot honey hornets are next. After that, it’s the scorpion kimchi and the ant guacamole. Then she takes the baked casu martzu — a Sardinian cheese that contains live insect larvae — out of the oven and tops it with faux caviar. Wanting to keep dessert simple, she drone-ordered some Micolino’s ice cream. Guests can top it with cricket sprinkles if they want. Of course this fictional scenario will never become reality. No matter how many insect farms they set up, it will only make a very small dent in the nightmarish global famines that are coming. Numerous long-term trends are combining to create a “perfect storm” for global food production that is unlike anything that has ever been witnessed in all of human history. So they can keep trying to encourage everyone to eat bugs all they want, but in the end it really isn’t going to make much of a difference. Michael’s new book entitled “Chaos” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can subscribe to his Substack newsletter at michaeltsnyder.substack.com. About the Author: Michael Snyder’s new book entitled “Chaos” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com. He has also written seven other books that are available on Amazon.com including “End Times”, “7 Year Apocalypse”, “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America”, “The Beginning Of The End”, and “Living A Life That Really Matters”.  When you purchase any of Michael’s  books you help to support the work that he is doing.  You can also get his articles by email as soon as he publishes them by subscribing to his Substack newsletter.  Michael has published thousands of articles on The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and he always freely and happily allows others to republish those articles on their own websites.  These are such troubled times, and people need hope.  John 3:16 tells us about the hope that God has given us through Jesus Christ: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  If you have not already done so, we strongly urge you to invite Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior today. The post 12 Facts That Prove That People All Over The Globe Are Already “Eating The Bugs” On A Regular Basis appeared first on End Of The American Dream.

Watch The X22 Report On Video 2 videos found Ep 3434b – Trump Destroyed The Clinton,Biden & Obama Dynasty,Confirms Pause,People Have The Tools Ep 3434a – In The End It Will Be Shown That The Fed Is Not Independent, Game Over Click On Picture To See Larger Picture The D party is working overtime to distract from the fact that they caused the inflation, but this is not working because they do not control the flow of information. In the end, the people are going to learn that the Fed is not independent, it is aligned with the [DS] agenda, game over. The [DS] is struggling, all the have is the fake news to push their message, the people are no longer listening. Trump has let everyone know that he has destroyed the Clinton, Biden and Obama dynasty. He has now confirmed that he has been in government for 8 years, which means he is the commander in chief. The people now have the tools they need to fight agains the tyrannical government and the people must vote them out.   Economy This is dishonest and deceitful. He is using the term Gross Profit because it sounds like a lot to someone who doesn't understand a P&L. Gross Profit doesn't include rent, utilities, salaries, insurance, marketing, etc. Kroger's actual NET profit was around 2%. That means they… https://t.co/paWYuuulMY — Chef Andrew Gruel (@ChefGruel) August 26, 2024   make $.02 on every dollar they bring in. This is just more propaganda to trick people who don’t understand business. As for the CEO pay, sure, it’s probably excessive, but even if you removed the CEO altogether, their net profit would probably change .0000001% They are not even being imported to fill jobs. The vast majority of them just live on welfare benefits and don't bother to work. They receive free housing, free food, free healthcare, free cell phones and free spending money. Then they spend their days causing chaos. pic.twitter.com/KEKwCKGy0R — Wall Street Silver (@WallStreetSilv) August 26, 2024   Fed rate cuts are finally coming. We have now gone 13 months since the last Fed rate hike without a cut, marking the second longest period since the 1970s. This is only behind the June 2006 to September 2007 period when it took 15 months between the last rate increase and the… pic.twitter.com/MRzxEyIzN4 — The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) August 25, 2024   first reduction. To put this into perspective, the average length between the last hike and first cut is 8 months. The Fed is set to cut rates in September which would mark 14 months from the last rate hike. The battle against inflation has been a long one. For the first time in history, the world’s top central banks are shrinking their balance sheets (QT) at the same time. Last month, the Bank of Japan announced that it would reduce its bond holdings worth ~$5 trillion. Now, the BoJ joined the Fed, the European Central Bank, the… pic.twitter.com/9ZiVM87Ffs — The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) August 25, 2024  Bank of Canada, and the Bank of England in joint liquidity withdrawal from the financial system. In the past, whenever a material amount of liquidity has been withdrawn, markets experienced significant volatility. Since 2022, the Fed has shrunk its balance sheet by $1.8 trillion, to $7.2 trillion, and the ECB by ~$2.7 trillion to ~$7.1 trillion. History says volatility is not going away. Study Reveals the Myth of Federal Reserve Independence According to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, “The Federal Reserve’s monetary policy independence is an important and broadly supported institutional arrangement that has served the American public well.” According to Professor Thomas J. Weber at Pace University Lubin School of Business, this is nothing but a myth. In a recently published paper, Webster argues that the relationship between the Fed and the U.S. government is more like a captive’s relationship with his captor.   Webster argues that “a more economic description of the Fed’s relationship with the executive and legislative branches is regulatory capture (also called agency capture).” “This occurs when a government agency is politically co-opted into serving the special interests of the institution it is meant to be regulated.” While the Federal Reserve isn’t supposed to regulate Congress, it is tasked with independently maintaining “price stability.” Webster asserts that the central bank abandons this mandate and instead prioritizes enabling government borrowing and spending. In effect, the central bank is the engine that drives the massive U.S. welfare-warfare state. Source: goldseek.com   Political/Rights Kamala sends violent Venezuelan gang members to Colorado. Kamala sends 75-year-old praying Christians to prison. pic.twitter.com/64ZCwkkLw4 — Mike Davis (@mrddmia) August 26, 2024  It cost $450 billion paper year to care for illegal aIiens, but they tell us $10 billion for a wall is too expensive. Which way western man? pic.twitter.com/Wf6LriHaOR — Wall Street Silver (@WallStreetSilv) August 26, 2024 Geopolitical/Police State While Durov holds French citizenship, is arrested for violating French law, this has broader implications for other social media, including Twitter. There’s a growing intolerance for platforming disinfo & malign influence & a growing appetite for accountability. Musk should be… https://t.co/GyPMquKtKV — Alexander S. Vindman (@AVindman) August 25, 2024   nervous. When you say you are committed to freedom of expression, you are lying. We have a letter from France that proves this, without a doubt. We had to shutdown Rumble in France because you have NO committment to freedom of expression. https://t.co/Eb4qQdancX — Chris Pavlovski (@chrispavlovski) August 26, 2024  freedoms are upheld within a legal framework, both on social media and in real life, to protect citizens and respect their fundamental rights. It is up to the judiciary, in full independence, to enforce the law. The arrest of the president of Telegram on French soil took place as part of an ongoing judicial investigation. It is in no way a political decision. It is up to the judges to rule on the matter. I hate to call the president of France a lying, gaslighting jackass, but… Deeply committed to freedom of expression and communication? Didn’t you suggest censoring social media companies during your latest bout of riots? Yes. Yes you did. You don’t value freedom of… pic.twitter.com/srWjwrb3Do — Viva Frei (@thevivafrei) August 26, 2024   expression. You are a dictator just like the other dictators of European history. You just have a softer accent.   Remember when Trump said, they are after you the people, I’m just standing in the way. Skip Hall, the Mayor of Surprise, Arizona had a constituent arrested at a city council meeting for criticizing the city and expressing her first amendment rights. Free speech is under attack everywhere. You must speak up now or you can be next.pic.twitter.com/ln4hXw3h9a — Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) August 25, 2024 TAKE A LISTEN   Pawns of the patriarchy The funniest part is their trust soared as the corporate media fed them lies about the Russia-collusion hoax https://t.co/LsmeyKGIGL — KanekoaTheGreat (@KanekoaTheGreat) August 25, 2024 This is why the people cannot be told, they must be shown. They need to begin thinking critically and asking questions. The D’s who are brainwashed by the proganada machine need to be shown how their party is going to destroy America.  Ask 'counter' QUESTIONS to initiate 'thought'.Socratic method.You can not untangle a disordered mind by arguing with it. It can only emerge from the chaos of false orthodoxy through glimmers of light, that it is led to perceive. Mathew 5:16 LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE. pic.twitter.com/5wheye3vHI — TruthHammer4EVA (@TruthHammer4EVA) August 25, 2024 TAKE A LISTEN TAKE A LISTEN Alarming and unconstitutional — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 26, 2024 TAKE A LISTEN     War Sgt. Tyler Vargas-Andrews, a U.S. Marine sniper, testifies to Congress that he was denied permission to shoot the suicide bomber in Afghanistan who killed 13 service members and over 170 civilians: "Plain and simple, we were ignored. Our expertise was disregarded. No one was… pic.twitter.com/TEb7NuGgpF — KanekoaTheGreat (@KanekoaTheGreat) August 26, 2024   held accountable for our safety… The withdrawal was a catastrophe, in my opinion. There was an inexcusable lack of accountability.” Sgt. Vargas-Andrews lost his right arm and left leg in that same explosion, which happened three years ago today. Harris says she had key role in Biden’s Afghanistan withdrawal decision The vice president confirmed she was the last person in the room before Biden made the decision to move forward with withdrawing U.S. troops. Source: politico.com The media wants you to believe it’s President Trump who doesn’t respect the fallen. Their narrative can be disproven with one 8 second video. pic.twitter.com/IqP4JbNgVd — Patri0tsareinContr0l (@Patri0tContr0l) August 26, 2024 https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1828073965807399319 – Marine Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz – Marine Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum – Marine Lance Cpl. Dyland R. Merola – Marine Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui – Navy HM3 Maxton W. Soviak – Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Kauss Where was Biden, Kamala, Obama, Bush, Clinton, Cheynee        MEDIA REMAINS SILENT IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE WORST ADMINISTRATION IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY! MAGA2024 False Flags Democratic National Convention surprise guest turns out to be COVID-19 as multiple attendees test positive Multiple attendees at the convention in Chicago last week subsequently tested positive for the COVID-  Several others also shared their diagnosis on social media. “Indeed. I arrived at the DNC healthy and hopeful and left very sick and disillusioned,” human rights lawyer Yasmine Taeb wrote on X.   Source: nypost.com Covid surge forces schools to close and bring back pandemic-era measures- and more are at risk as millions head back to class next week Schools in two states experiencing a rise in Covid cases announced they were closing facilities and switching to remote learning. Alabama and Tennessee announced the closure of two schools — affecting more than a thousand children — just days into the new academic year, with officials saying the virus had forced them to shut and carry out a ‘deep clean.’ At one of the schools, children had to abandon their desks and revert to remote learning for two days — a move reminiscent of the early days of Covid. The closures — both in Republican states — came despite a mountain of evidence suggesting they hamper children’s learning, social interactions and ability to develop natural immunity to common infections. And there are fears that more disruption could be in store for students in the coming months — with many schools, in states like New York, New Jersey and Michigan, returning after the Labor Day weekend. Source: dailymail.co.uk Oh look – “former FDA Commissioner” says vaccines will stop the spread No mention of Pfizer Corrupt pic.twitter.com/IZyuG6ljEg — DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) August 26, 2024 Q WOW. The Nebraska Chamber of Commerce had to write a letter to Tim Walz’s Congressional campaign to remove an award he never received from them. Going on to clarify that the Chamber had endorsed his opponent. Is there anything Tim Walz hasn’t lied about? pic.twitter.com/oVuu0hYIT8 — Dustin Grage (@GrageDustin) August 24, 2024 Kamala Harris Pushes for Special Treatment in Sept. 10 ABC Debate and Now Demands Seated Format and ‘Cheat-Sheet’ — Trump Responds Kamala Harris is attempting to change the rules for the upcoming ABC debate on September 10. Reports indicate that she is demanding a seated format and permission to use a “cheat-sheet” during the live debate. This is yet another example of Harris’s reluctance to face tough questions and her inability to handle the pressure of live debates. Harris campaign spokesman Brian Fallon claimed that the campaign now insists on keeping microphones live at all times, per AP.   “Harris is ready to deal with Trump’s constant lies and interruptions in real-time. Trump should stop hiding behind the mute button.” Jason Miller, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign, highlighted the hypocrisy of Harris’s demands. He pointed out that her campaign had previously agreed to the same rules set for the CNN debate but is now attempting to backtrack. “Enough with the games. We accepted the ABC debate under the exact same terms as the CNN debate,” Miller said. “The Harris camp, after having already agreed to the CNN rules, asked for a seated debate, with notes, and opening statements. We said no changes to the agreed upon rules.” “If Kamala Harris isn’t smart enough to repeat the messaging points her handlers want her to memorize, that’s their problem,” Miller added. Source: thegatewaypundit.com President Trump, how are you preparing for the debate? DJT: “I’m not… I think my whole life I’ve been preparing for a debate.” There’s probably some deeper meaning to that statement if you consider how long this Plan has been in place…… pic.twitter.com/dMAuIjZ456 — Patri0tsareinContr0l (@Patri0tContr0l) August 26, 2024    questions to answer!!! Why did Harris turn down Fox, NBC, CBS, and even CNN? Stay tuned!!! A fundamental principle in sales is that whoever needs the other person more loses. Hear me out. We know from every credible person analyzing the polls that the current public polling is overstating Kamala’s strength. Earlier today Trump says polling “against Kamala is… https://t.co/9Kz9yjiquM — The Reckoning (@sethjlevy) August 26, 2024  looking very good.” Then he points out how bad ABC news is based on their Sunday show this morning and their connections to Kamala. Trump implies he may not be willing to do the ABC debate. So here is the fundamental question. Who needs the debate more? 2301 Sep 30, 2018 3:53:45 PM EDT Q !!mG7VJxZNCI ID: 000000 No. 311  RED OCTOBER STAY TUNED AND WATCH! Q+ Flashback: April 2023 62% of Democrats wanted a primary challenger to Joe Biden, 52% of them supported a Kennedy challenge. Independent voters supported this as well. What did they both get? Kamala Harris. The Kennedy news is a problem for Dems.https://t.co/7XBbPUirda pic.twitter.com/lqsO9qYwqE — Rasmussen Reports (@Rasmussen_Poll) August 25, 2024     Is the Kamala-Biden administration pulling RFK Jr.'s Secret Service protection after he endorsed Trump? He's still campaigning and on the ballot in 40 states. He withdrew from swing states because Democrats sued him off the ballot. How can they justify pulling Kennedy's… https://t.co/vx3pThzCEr — KanekoaTheGreat (@KanekoaTheGreat) August 25, 2024   protection a month after Trump was shot and during a tight election?  “I am committed to doing all that I can to send President Trump back to the White House where he can once again serve us as our commander in chief. Because I am confident that his first task will be to do the work to walk us back from the brink of war. We can not be prosperous, unless we are at peace.” Notice: Democrats don't just own the rigged "mail-in ballot" process but they also control the vote counting process itself in many states. https://t.co/Wsg1ZMGu36 — Emerald Robinson (@EmeraldRobinson) August 26, 2024 Texas removes more than 1 million ineligible voters from voter rolls  Governor Greg Abbott today announced that since signing Senate Bill 1 into law in 2021, Texas has removed over one million people from the state’s voter rolls, including people who moved out-of-state, are deceased, and are noncitizens. That removal process has been, and will continue to be, ongoing. Since Governor Abbott signed Senate Bill 1 into law in 2021, Texas has removed over 1 million people from the voter rolls, including: Over 6,500 noncitizens Over 6,000 voters who have a felony conviction Over 457,000 deceased people Over 463,000 voters on the suspense list Over 134,000 voters who responded to an address confirmation notice that they had moved Over 65,000 voters who failed to respond to a notice of examination Over 19,000 voters who requested to cancel their registration Total: Over 1.1 million Source:  kcbd.com RNC Sues North Carolina Election Board: Accuses Them of Flagrant Election Law Violations, Including Protecting Non-Citizens on Voter Rolls! The Republican National Committee (RNC), alongside the North Carolina Republican Party (NCGOP), has launched a significant legal action aimed at protecting the sanctity of North Carolina’s electoral process. This action underscores the Republican Party’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that every legitimate vote counts and that the voices of lawful citizens are not drowned out by fraudulent activities. The lawsuit, filed against the North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE) and its members, centers on the board’s refusal to enforce crucial safeguards against non-citizen voting. At the heart of the matter is Section 44 of North Carolina Session Law 2023-140, a common-sense measure designed to prevent individuals who are not U.S. citizens from illegally participating in the state’s elections. Section 44 mandates that when individuals in North Carolina are excused from jury duty on the grounds of non-citizenship, this information must be shared with the NCSBE. The board is then required to review these individuals’ voter registration status, ensuring that only eligible voters remain on the rolls. Despite this clear directive, the NCSBE has, to date, failed to act. BREAKING: The RNC has filed a lawsuit against the North Carolina Board of Election for multiple election law violations, including failure to remove non-citizens from their voter rolls and REFUSING to provide copies of the rolls for review State law requires county clerks to… pic.twitter.com/k5sKR5U9XR — George (@BehizyTweets) August 25, 2024   alert the Board of Elections about anyone excused from jury duty because they aren’t citizens. The point of the law is to allow a seamless cross-referencing between the names on the voter rolls and the people eligible for jury duty. If someone isn’t eligible for jury duty, clearly, they’re also not eligible to vote. This is common sense, but the Democrat officials are refusing to follow the law The Board also rejected the RNC’s request to see copies of the state’s voter rolls and other maintenance records. The State’s Public Records Act allows voters and interested organizations to access and review the voter rolls, and refusing to turn them over is blatantly illegal. The RNC is asking the court to issue an injunction against the board to (1) force them to comply with the Public Records Act and (2) to work with the clerks to remove the noncitizens from the voter rolls Ask yourself. Why would the board be withholding the voter rolls? Are they terrified we will find thousands of noncitizens registered to vote as we have in other states? Source: thegatewaypundit.com Update: "The euphoric mood at the Democratic National Convention this week came alongside growing concern that the former president’s backers could attempt to undermine the results." What, no more stuff jobs?https://t.co/d2swdBdjDm https://t.co/KZJbYOq8zA pic.twitter.com/pt7y5UaMs8 — Rasmussen Reports (@Rasmussen_Poll) August 26, 2024 AG Merrick Garland Brags About J6 Prosecutions and Issues a Veiled Threat Regarding Upcoming Elections  Source: thegatewaypundit.com DOJ prosecutors and DC judges are warning that the hammer will come down on any American who protests the 2024 election results. Here is Judge Tanya Chutkan last month lecturing a J6 protester convicted of a misdemeanor. They treat J6ers like mass murderers. pic.twitter.com/yiInpiCcwa — Julie Kelly (@julie_kelly2) August 25, 2024  6. (And DOJ let off the hook hundreds of 2017 inaugural rioters.) Second, there is no law guaranteeing the “peaceful transfer of power.” Which is why the Constitution provides several weeks between election day and inauguration day with both a state and congressional certification process and opportunities to contest the results. Third, as he brags about the nearly 1,500 J6ers arrested and charged so far for January 6–including at least seven last week during the DNC–most face misdemeanors. Fourth, SCOTUS overturned how this thuggish DOJ used 1512c2 and his prosecutors in most cases are now sheepishly dismissing the count. And we are still awaiting a long delayed opinion by DC appellate court on DOJ’s most common misdemeanor on Jan 6 cases. Every time I see Lisa Monaco I fume that 48 Republican senators confirmed her appointment as deputy AG. House Dem Jamie Raskin says they will not certify Trump on January 6, then threatens an Insurrection against "MAGA Trumpers." Merrick Garland, on the right says anyone,"interfering with the peaceful transfer of power on J6 will be arrested." Unless they're Democrats. pic.twitter.com/4UxEO2UZNv — Mike Engleman (@RealHickory) August 25, 2024 elling y’all right now they are going to try to steal this election from the people and they want everybody to be scared of them Cyberattack disrupts Seattle’s Tacoma International Airport and seaport The Port of Seattle, including SEA Airport, is experiencing an internet and web systems outage, with passengers urged to check in with their airlines for more information The Port of Seattle and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport shared over the weekend that they were experiencing an “internet and web systems outage, which is impacting some systems at the airport.” The cause of the incident is not yet public but the airport suggested it could be a cyberattack. “Earlier this morning the Port of Seattle experienced certain system outages indicating a possible cyberattack. The Port isolated critical systems and is in the process of working to restore full service and do not have an estimated time for return,” posted Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on its X account on August 25. Source: thehindu.com 4587 Jul 17, 2020 5:47:13 PM EDT Q !!Hs1Jq13jV6 ID: f4dc5f No. 9991332  https://twitter.com/realAlexBaumann/status/1284240420302536705 C19 narrative kill date: ELECTION Day +1 Prepare for zero-day [massive cyber-power] attacks [attempts] on 11.4. Q First Amendment: This amendment guarantees freedoms concerning religion, expression, assembly, and the right to petition. It states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” The right to assemble and petition includes the right to protest, which inherently could be applied to contesting election results, provided the protests are peaceful.   Historical and Legal Interpretations: The Constitution’s framers valued the ability of citizens to express dissent, which is why the First Amendment was included. Historical context and legal precedents, like those discussed in various court cases, reinforce that protesting, even against government actions like elections, is a protected activity under the First Amendment, as long as it remains peaceful. 4960 Q !!Hs1Jq13jV6 ID: 000000 No.17728969 Nov 7 2022 19:20:19 (EST) Why do some elections take more than a day to count? Can cheating be done after the polls are closed? Who controls the pollbooks? Who controls the databases? Who controls the elections? Why are extra ballots printed? If someone doesn’t vote, can bad actors hijack their vote? How? Why did the National Guard activate cybersecurity teams? Who gave the order to ‘activate’ the cybersecurity teams? Why? To protect the elections? To claim the midterms are ‘safe’? Safe from what? Setting the stage? Watch carefully. White hats have secured many systems, but problems still remain. You have all the tools you need. Vote. Q 4722 Sep 16, 2020 1:16:59 PM EDT Q !!Hs1Jq13jV6 ID: 338ebd No. 10668955  Add it all up. 1. Virus 2. Riots [organized _ANTIFA] 3. Fires The ‘Why’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUxilJznKyY Make no mistake, they will not concede on ELECTION Night. Make no mistake, they will contest this legally in battleground states. Make no mistake, they will project doubt in the ELECTION results Make no mistake, they will organize massive riots and attempt Anarchy-99 design Playbook known. Q Trump says he destroyed the Clinton Political Dynasty, the Bush Dynasty, the Obama Dynasty, the Biden Dynasty, and now he's going to beat the Marxist Kamala Harris that no one has ever heard of. He says it's sort of a miracle how he was able to defeat all of these lifelong… pic.twitter.com/zwvIjMSpRJ — Green Lives Matter (@Ultrafrog17) August 26, 2024 Trump says he destroyed the Clinton Political Dynasty, the Bush Dynasty, the Obama Dynasty, the Biden Dynasty, and now he’s going to beat the Marxist Kamala Harris that no one has ever heard of. He says it’s sort of a miracle how he was able to defeat all of these lifelong politicians at their own game and that he’s been in government for eight years and knows the system better than ever before so he can make America Greater than ever before with the right people. “Don’t forget. I beat Nancy Pelosi. I beat all these people. Every one of them. And somebody said you know if you look at it he beat the Clinton family right? And that was really Obama too because he was behind her a hundred percent. And I beat the Bush family. I beat everybody. And now I beat Biden. I got him out. I beat him twice actually. I beat him the first time but now I beat him a second time because it was the debate that got him out. And now I have to beat somebody that nobody ever heard of who’s a Marxist And I think I’ll be able to do that. But I know the people now I’ve been in government now for eight years. I became President and I said, I’ve never done this before It’s pretty you know sort of a miracle. You know in the history of our country…We had ninety two percent of politicians become president and eight percent generals, not admirals but generals only generals So those were the only politicians and generals. But ninety-two percent was politicians and eight percent There was nobody else then I came along And so people were surprised but I…know the system I know the people I know some great people and I know some people that I wouldn’t put in, but you learned that. And so now I’m a very experienced guy, and we’re gonna bring our country back. And we’re respected we’re gonna be respected again with other countries. Don’t forget I had no wars…other than I defeated ISIS but that war was already started. That war was raging for twenty years before I got there And I ended that war in three or four weeks…And I’ve saved thousands and thousands of lives. But now I know the system and I know Washington I know the people and I hope we win. And if we do win we’re gonna make this country greater than ever before.”

by Mac Slavo, SHTF Plan: As the cooler weather approaches in the northern hemisphere, Ukrainians are being told that they will need to prepare for a difficult winter by the energy minister. Energy Minister German Galushchenko warned on Saturday, in a televised statement that this winter will be harder to get through than the last […]

by Alana Mastrangelo, Breitbart: Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov was arrested in France on Saturday after his private jet landed at Le Bourget Airport, French media reported. Durov was arrested under a warrant related to “various violations of his encrypted messaging service,” according to a report by Le Monde. The 39-year-old, who became a French citizen in 2021, is expected […]

from Mark Dice: TRUTH LIVES on at https://sgtreport.tv/

This One-Bowl Zucchini Carrot Bread is a healthy, quick bread that’s moist and flavorful. You’ll get two delicious loaves of tender, ultra-satisfying bread, perfect for breakfast, snack, or dessert. Packed with veggies, this Zucchini Carrot Bread is at the top of our must-eat healthy quick bread recipes. In This Article Why This Recipe Stands OutKey Recipe IngredientsSubstitutions And VariationsStep-By-Step Recipe InstructionsHow To Prep AheadCommonly Asked QuestionsZucchini Carrot Bread (One-Bowl) RecipeMore to Cook And Eat View more Why This Recipe Stands Out We all know that if we can get our kids to eat anything with vegetables, it’s a total win. And this Zucchini Carrot Bread is one of those wins. Here’s why: One-Bowl, Less Mess: We’re all about easy cleanup, and that’s just what you’ll get with this one-bowl recipe like our One Bowl Easy Apple Cake. Kids Devour This: This bread is so delicious that the kids won’t even realize they’re eating veggies! Healthy Ingredients: This Zucchini Carrot Bread is baked with olive oil and applesauce, like this Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread. It’s one of our top must-eat, healthy, quick-bread recipes. Cream Cheese Frosting: Is there anything better than a warm slice of quick bread? Yes, a warm slice of quick bread with cream cheese frosting. It’s a Great Snack: We love this bread as a snack, but it’s also perfect for breakfast or dessert. It’s one of the best back-to-school recipes! Key Recipe Ingredients White Whole Wheat Flour – We use white whole wheat flour, which is whole wheat flour that is milder and lighter tasting than regular whole wheat. Olive Oil – I often use extra-virgin olive oil in my baking, and it doesn’t taste impart any olive flavor at all. You can also use coconut oil, vegetable oil, or canola oil. Grated Zucchini and Carrot – These are the stars of our recipe, adding moisture, natural sweetness, and a dose of veggies to the bread. Make sure to grate them finely for the best texture. Substitutions And Variations Here are our favorite substitutions and variations: Flour: This recipe calls for white whole wheat flour, but you can use half all-purpose flour and half whole wheat flour instead. If you are gluten-free, you can use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. Nuts: Try adding hopped walnuts or pecans would be delicious in this zucchini carrot bread. Or try using them in this Apple Fritter with Streusel Topping. Omit the Frosting: You could forgo the crazy-good cream cheese drizzle and take this bread from healthy-ish to legit healthy. Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions Preheat oven to 350F and grease two 9×5 inch loaf pans. In a large bowl, whisk together dry ingredients and sugar. Make a well in the center and add eggs. Beat the eggs lightly and add vanilla, oil, and applesauce. Stir well. Stir in the zucchini and carrots. Transfer the thick batter to the greased loaf pans. Bake for 35-45 minutes. Combine butter, cream cheese, and vanilla and beat well. Gradually add sugar while beating to make the cream cheese frosting. Transfer frosting into a Ziploc plastic baggie, press out the air, and seal. Snip a tiny hole in the corner and drizzle frosting over cooled bread. For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below. How To Prep Ahead Take a look at our favorite prep ahead tips and strategies: Grate Zucchini and Carrot: You can grate the zucchini and carrot ahead of time. Store them in separate airtight containers in the fridge for up to 2 days. This is a great way to get a head start on the recipe and streamline the baking process. Make the Cream Cheese Frosting: The cream cheese frosting can be made in advance. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. When ready to use it, let it sit at room temperature to soften slightly before frosting the bread. This Zucchini Carrot Bread is ultra-satisfying, tender, and flavorful with mouthwatering spices. Commonly Asked Questions Why is my zucchini carrot bread dense and heavy? If your zucchini carrot bread is dense and heavy, it could be due to overmixing. Once you add the flour, mix until just combined. Overmixing can lead to gluten development, resulting in a denser loaf. Can I use all-purpose flour instead of whole wheat flour? Yes, you can use all-purpose flour instead of whole wheat flour. The texture and flavor will differ slightly, but it will still yield a delicious zucchini carrot bread. How long does zucchini carrot bread keep? Zucchini carrot bread can be kept at room temperature for up to 2 days and in the fridge for up to a week. Can I freeze this zucchini carrot bread? If you want to store it longer, you can freeze it for up to 3 months. Just make sure to wrap it tightly to maintain its freshness. Print Zucchini Carrot Bread (One-Bowl) This One-Bowl Zucchini Carrot Bread comes together easily, as all ingredients are stirred together in one bowl. This makes two gorgeous, healthy-ish, and scrumptious loaves. Perfect for breakfast, snack, or dessert. Course BreakfastCuisine AmericanDiet VegetarianMethod baking Prep Time 30 minutes minutesCook Time 40 minutes minutesTotal Time 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes Servings 16 Calories 236kcal Author Amy Dong Ingredients3 cups white whole wheat see notes1 tsp baking powder1 tsp baking soda½ tsp table salt2 tsp ground cinnamon1 tsp ginger1 tsp ground nutmeg1 ½ cups sugar3 large eggs2 tsp vanilla extract½ cup olive oil½ cup applesauce2 cups zucchini grated, lightly packed2 cups carrot grated, lightly packedOptional Cream Cheese Frosting½ cups softened butter16 oz softened cream cheese1 tsp vanilla extract1 lb powdered sugar InstructionsPreheat oven to 350F, with rack on lower middle position. Grease two 9×5 loaf pans and set aside.In a large bowl, gently whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg until incorporated. Add the sugar and whisk to combine. Make a well in the center and add the eggs into the well; lightly beat eggs. Add vanilla, oil, and applesauce to the bowl. Whisk/stir to combine ingredients well (batter will be very thick, which is fine.)Stir in the zucchini and carrots, using a wooden spatula to fully incorporate the batter.Use rubber spatula to transfer batter evenly into your two greased loaf pans. Bake about 35-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center of loaves comes out with a few tender crumbs attached. Let finished loaves cool completely in pans set on a wire rack at room temp. Once cool, run a thin knife around edges of pan and release the loaves onto serving plates or cutting board.Make Cream Cheese FrostingCombine butter, cream cheese, and vanilla. Beat well. Add sugar gradually and beat well. If too thick, add small amount of milk. If too thin, add small amounts of sugar until desired consistency is reached. Frosting naturally thickens and firms up as it sits. Transfer frosting into a Ziploc plastic baggie, press out the air, and seal. Snip a tiny hole in the corner and drizzle frosting over cooled bread. Notes You can also use half wheat/half all-purpose, or you can opt for 100% all-purpose flour.  For a finer texture in your finished loaves, finely grate the veggies. If you prefer a bold pop of orange and green in your baked bread, go with coarsely grated. It doesn’t affect the flavor, whichever grate size you use. It’s mostly an aesthetic choice. Note that actual bake time varies, depending on your oven, so check every 5 minutes or so.  Add 1 cup of chopped pecans or walnuts into the batter and/or topping, if desired. This bread keeps well when sealed air-tight at moderate room temperature for a few days. This zucchini carrot bread is delicious on its own, but if you want to take it to the next level, try adding a cream cheese frosting. It’s a classic pairing that never disappoints.   If you enjoyed this recipe, please come back and give it a rating. We hearing from you!  Join our Free Recipe Club and get our newest, best recipes each week! NutritionCalories: 236kcal | Carbohydrates: 38.2g | Protein: 4.4g | Fat: 8.6g | Saturated Fat: 1.4g | Cholesterol: 34.9mg | Sodium: 177.2mg | Fiber: 3.2g | Sugar: 20.4g More to Cook And Eat Chocolate Zucchini Cupcakes – These Chocolate Zucchini Cupcakes are super moist, fluffy, and richly chocolaty. The velvety ganache frosting is heavenly! Moist Lemon Zucchini Bread – The perfect balance of whole, nutritious ingredients create the ultimate lemon zucchini bread. Enjoy it any time of day. Best Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting – The cake is supremely tender, moist, and rich flavor. The frosting is creamy, smooth, and decadent. It’s even better the next day. Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread – This Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread is healthy with plenty of zucchini, whole grains, and coconut oil instead of butter. It’s decadently moist and utterly satisfying for breakfast or dessert. The post Zucchini Carrot Bread (One-Bowl) appeared first on Chew Out Loud.

  Stories and evidence of pre-conquest ritual human sacrifice abound throughout present-day Latin America. The conquistadors, mired in the process of slaughtering thousands of natives in the name of Catholicism and gold, were repulsed by the rite and put a quick end to it without understanding its role within these indigenous societies. Yet each culture had its particular reasons and methods for human sacrifice, which, far from the wild and gory celebration of violence it is often depicted as, was most often a solemn ritual that served spiritual, political, and societal purposes.   Honoring the Gods: Human Sacrifice as the Ultimate Offering Illustration of the Aztec human sacrifice ritual from the Tovar Codex, 1585. Source: Brown University   The practice of human sacrifice, certainly not unique to the Americas, began among the earlier cultures of the region and was still in use among the Aztec, Maya, and Inca at the time of the conquest. With so many pre-conquest records destroyed by the colonizers, researchers lack comprehensive information about the finer details of the practice, but some strides have been made in studying the nature of human sacrifice.   For all of the cultures occupying Meso and South America before the conquest, religion was the initial motivator for ritual sacrifice practices. The practice of making offerings to the gods appears to have been rooted in the ideas of reciprocity and atonement. Across all cultures, the overarching belief was that the gods had made sacrifices, even spilling their own blood, in order to give humans the ultimate gift: life. Humans, in turn, made offerings to the gods to thank and repay them for this gift, as well as to atone for their sins so the gods didn’t change their minds and bring humanity to a swift end. Rather than indicating a lack of respect for human life, sacrifices were made because human life was so valuable, representing the ultimate gift to the gods.   These cultures also shared a belief in the afterlife, including the notion that those sacrificed to the gods were moving on to bigger, better things when their time on this earth came to an end, to be honored by the gods in the next world.   Illustration of Huitzilopochtli, Tovar Codex, 1585. Source: Brown University   Some scholars argue that the term “sacrifice” itself is inappropriate, an imposed perspective from the Old World. In fact, many of the victims, as well as their families, if perhaps not overjoyed at the prospect of having their hearts cut out or being decapitated, would have believed it was an honor to be chosen to be gifts to the gods.   The Aztecs are perhaps the best-known practitioners of the sacrifice ritual, which the Conquistadors witnessed firsthand. What their chroniclers notably failed to emphasize were the far more common forms of offerings, including material goods and animals—these forms of sacrifice might have been offered daily, but humans were not.   While offerings were made to a variety of gods, it was primarily Huitzilopochtli, god of the sun and war, who needed to be nourished with blood to continue his battle against darkness. If he lost, the world would end. That did not mean that humans had to be constantly sacrificed, however. The Aztecs also practiced ritual bloodletting—that is, nobles and priests regularly let their own blood, which was collected and offered to the gods.   Religious belief was the initial source of the sacrifice ritual, but as the Aztec Empire expanded, beginning with the reign of Itzcóatl in the 15th century, a political dimension to the ritual took shape. It became used as a tool for intimidating conquered territories and keeping them in line, with increasing numbers of victims coming from outside the Aztec capital at Tenochtitlan.   Carved limestone lintel, showing a bloodletting ritual performed by Lady K’ab’al Xook, The Yaxchilan Lintels, Classic Maya period, 8th century CE. Source: The British Museum, London   The Maya, once believed to be the more “peaceful” of the Mesoamerican civilizations, also practiced human sacrifice, dating as far back as 200 CE. Like the Aztec, the Maya engaged in human sacrifice for exceptional reasons, not as an everyday ritual. Other forms of offerings were far more common, including bloodletting and body piercing. For the Maya, ritual bloodletting appears not to have been contained to the elites but practiced among all classes.   For the Maya, death and rebirth were deeply intertwined, beginning with their twin hero gods, Hunahpú and Xbalanque, who had to travel to the underworld in order to be reborn. For this reason, sacrifice rituals seem to be particularly linked to times of death and rebirth, like the ascension or death of a ruler. Mass ritual killings might also be undertaken in times of great distress, while smaller-scale sacrifices might be made more regularly by priests in exchange for granting society the things needed to survive, namely water to fuel abundant harvests, which came from their rain god, Chaac.   Metalwork llama figurine, Inca, 1400-1535 CE. Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York   Further south, evidence indicates the Inca also practiced human sacrifice, and for much the same reasons as their Mesoamerican counterparts: to honor and appease the gods, especially in times of uncertainty or difficulty. The Inca had many huacas, or sacred places, throughout their territory, and this is where many sacrifices were dedicated. Smaller huacas were honored with offerings that might include animals like llamas and alpacas or their blood, while the most important huacas, often on mountaintops, received human offerings.   The formal sacrifice ritual, capacocha (royal obligation), began in Cuzco, with the Sapa Inca announcing the event and requesting offerings from throughout the territory: gold, coca leaves, fine cloth, feathers, and humans. Some researchers suggest that human offerings may have been selected from among the elites, while others indicate they may have been offered by those wishing to improve their relationship with the Sapa Inca, both of which suggest a political dimension to the practice. These offerings were assembled in the capital and distributed during a pilgrimage to the sacred sites.   Who’s Who? Victims of Human Sacrifice A tzompantli, a tower of skulls from sacrifice victims, excavated at the Templo Mayor in present-day Mexico City, 1486-1502. Source: Government of Mexico   Across all three civilizations, victims appear to have fallen into two main categories: slaves or captured warriors, who were the most likely to be slain in mass events, and specially chosen human offerings whose selection had a specific political or spiritual element. The actual number of victims, however, is largely unknown.   For example, in the modern era, evidence of the skull racks and towers that the Spanish observed at Tenochtitlan has, in fact, been unearthed, but as far as the number of victims—which various Spanish chroniclers attested to be tens or even hundreds of thousands—archaeological evidence tallies nowhere near that number. Even at Tenochtitlan’s Templo Mayor, the main temple in the empire’s capital, where the largest number of such sacrifices would’ve been undertaken, the number of skulls uncovered so far has been less than 1,000.   While definitive numbers of victims are nearly impossible to establish, who they were has been somewhat easier to determine through studying the DNA of remains. This has, in many cases, allowed researchers to determine the gender and approximate ages of victims, as well as whether they were from within the local population or outside.   Maya bas-relief depicting a ball player, 600–750 CE, Guatemala. Source: National Museum of the American Indian, Washington DC   For the Aztec, most of the victims discovered so far appear to have been from outside Tenochtitlan. This indicates they were likely war captives or slaves—who may have been purchased in markets or offered to the Aztec Empire as tribute. As many sacrifice victims were captured warriors, they were predominantly adult males. In the years prior to the conquest, the Aztec fought a number of ritual or symbolic wars, the flower wars, with neighboring groups, the Tlaxcala in particular. Unlike wars for conquest, these battles were waged at predetermined times. They had different rules of engagement, with some scholars arguing that their primary purpose was for young warriors to gain experience and improve their status by capturing opponents for sacrifice rituals.   The Maya, it seems, did not make a practice of collecting and displaying skulls of human sacrifice victims—perhaps one reason it was originally believed that they didn’t participate in the ritual—but remains that have been discovered include men, women, and children, both local and from outside the region. Remains of children have been found in cenotes, sinkhole caves thought to be portals to the underworld, where priests would sacrifice them to the rain god. Children, in particular, may have been used in sacrifices meant to promote renewal, such as the beginning of a new calendar or agricultural cycle.   Sacrifice was also associated, particularly in the post-classic Maya period, with their ceremonial ballgame. Researchers suggest war captives would be made to play the game with a predetermined outcome and then sacrificed after losing. It was particularly notable if a rival chieftain or other important leader could be captured and sacrificed, as noble blood was highly prized as an offering.   Inca “ice maiden,” an unintentionally mummified victim of human sacrifice found in the Andes. Source: NBC News   The Inca practice of sacrificing victims at high altitudes in the Andes actually led to the preservation of a number of sacrificed mummies, giving scholars quite a bit more physical evidence to go on than in other regions. In contrast with their contemporaries in the Americas, this evidence suggests that, outside the practice of sacrificing prisoners of war and the wives and servants of the Sapa Inca upon his death, for religious ceremonies, the Inca specifically sacrificed children and young holy women, aclla. Some scholars suggest that, at such a young age, these children were thought to be unblemished, a perfect offering to the gods.   The Spanish records of the practice note that it included the sons and daughters of chiefs and other nobility, reinforcing the idea that it had both religious and political motives. While the sacrifice was carried out to honor the gods, the victims were selected to reinforce the power of the Sapa Inca.   Gory Details: Common Human Sacrifice Methods Aztec sacrificial knife with a flint blade and eagle motif, 1400-1521, Mexico. Source: The British Museum, London   While multiple methods were employed for the sacrifice ritual, often depending on the status of the victim or the purpose of the specific event, each civilization had its signature move—and scholars caution that while in some cases the ritual was carried out as a public spectacle, it was not a raucous celebration, but a solemn one.   For the Aztec, the most common ritual involved priests holding the victim down on a platform atop the Templo Mayor and then using an obsidian blade to cut open the chest cavity. The victim’s still-beating heart would be offered up to Huitzilopochtli while the body was pushed down the temple steps.   Scholar David Carrasco notes that this ritual was a reenactment of the Huitzilopochtli origin myth, in which the god bursts from his mother’s womb, kills his sister, and tosses her down the mountain. While this performance fulfilled the spiritual element of the ritual, the displaying of victims’ skulls on racks was most certainly a political tool for intimidating rivals and showcasing the empire’s power.   Scene from a Maya vase showing a decapitated head and captives awaiting sacrifice. Source: Justin Kerr   The Maya were partial to decapitation, again possibly harkening back to their mythology, some versions of which claim that the maize god was decapitated during the harvest and reborn in the spring. Decapitation was closely connected with rebirth and creation, so researchers suggest this method was most commonly used in rituals with great spiritual significance. An alternative was to tie victims up before pushing them to their deaths down the long stairs of the temple, while lower-status war captives were often disemboweled. In the late Maya period, evidence suggested they also adopted the Aztec practice of heart extraction.   Both the Aztec and Maya practices were performed publicly, while the Inca ceremony was necessarily private, taking place in the isolated and treacherous mountaintops. For the child victims of the Inca’s capacocha, it appears efforts were undertaken to make victims as comfortable as possible and avoid unnecessary violence—before burying them alive to die of suffocation or exposure. In the period before the sacrifice, victims were well-fed, well-treated, and possibly highly drugged. The trek up the mountain to the point of sacrifice would have been taxing for the victims, weakening them and hopefully making their passing easier. Some victims appear to have been strangled or suffocated before being buried, but scholars suggest anything likely to blemish the victims and therefore damage the offering to the gods would have been avoided. It was the mountain itself, and the spirit within that was supposed to take the child’s life.   Questioning the Narrative: Human Sacrifice in Context Illustration by Theodore de Bry of the Conquistadors hanging and burning natives, from Bartolomé de las Casas’ A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies, 1542. Source: Library of Congress   Christianity, the religion imposed by the Spanish throughout present-day Latin America, holds as its central premise that its god sacrificed his own son to save humanity’s souls. Millions have been slaughtered in the name of this god over the two thousand years since Jesus himself was killed.   Tens of thousands were brutally tortured and killed during the Spanish Inquisition while the Conquistadors rampaged throughout the Americas, murdering the Indigenous in the name of this same god.   Thus, many people, both scholars and amateurs alike, have begun to question why humanity has been so willing to embrace the Conquistadors’ framing of the Indigenous as “barbaric” for killing, on a smaller scale, to honor their gods and perpetuate human life in rituals their people understood and believed were necessary.