In today’s digital landscape‚ the draw of screens is clear‚ especially among the youngest members of society. But‚ what does this switch-up mean for children’s developing brains&;#63; Recent research published in the journal PLOS ONE investigates the neurological ramifications of reading on screens versus printed paper‚ shedding light on how different mediums influence cognitive engagement in young readers. The digital shift: exploring the impact on young readers The move from traditional print media to digital screens has become more common‚ particularly in educational contexts. However‚ concerns have been raised about the possible disadvantages of screen-based reading‚ particularly in terms of comprehension and retention. This phenomenon‚ termed as the “screen inferiority” effect‚ has prompted interest in its underlying neural causes‚ particularly in youngsters. Reading reality: insights from neuroscience To investigate the brain’s response to various reading media‚ researchers resorted to neurobiology‚ using electroencephalography (EEG) to record electrical activity within the brain. They used brainwaves to investigate how reading from screens versus printed paper affects cognitive processes in young readers. EEG Exploration: understanding brain activity patterns In a study of kids aged six to eight‚ EEG data indicated different patterns of brain activity throughout screen and print reading sessions. When reading from printed paper‚ children showed increased spectral power in frequency bands linked with cognitive engagement and attention‚ indicating a higher level of mental alertness than when reading on a screen. Screen struggles: cognitive load and attention Screen reading‚ on the other hand‚ resulted in greater spectral power in frequency regions associated with less focused attention states‚ indicating a higher cognitive burden. This was substantiated by a link between EEG patterns and attention task performance‚ showing the difficulties youngsters confront in keeping concentration and processing information while reading from screens. Future frontiers: the path ahead While the findings are useful‚ experts admit the need for more investigation. The modest sample size and age range of participants highlighted the significance of broadening research efforts to include a wider demographic. Furthermore‚ future research might look into how different sorts of texts and reading conditions affect brain responses‚ providing a more comprehensive knowledge of the effects of reading mediums on young minds. In the ever-changing landscape of education and technology‚ understanding the cognitive consequences of reading mediums is critical for creating ideal learning environments for kids. As we move forward‚ let us continue to investigate the connection between neuroscience and education‚ empowering young brains to thrive in a digital age. Source study: PLOS ONE—Higher theta-beta ratio during screen-based vs. printed paper is related to lower attention in children: An EEG studyThe post Good old-fashioned printed text outshines screens for cognitive engagement in young readers first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

In 1990‚ Michael Mesure was on the way to a wildlife rehabilitation center. Among his passengers was a common yellowthroat‚ a colorful warbler that had collided with a window. Mesure’s heart fell as he saw the tiny bird struggle for survival. Despite the pain‚ an unexpected moment of beauty occurred. As Mesure drove‚ the yellowthroat perched itself on the rearview mirror and filled the car with its melodious song. Unfortunately‚ this song was the bird’s last; mid-song‚ the warbler collapsed and died. After this point‚ Mesure grasped the serious consequences of bird collisions and the urgent need for action. Soon after‚ Mesure co-founded the Fatal Light Awareness Program (FLAP)‚ a groundbreaking program aimed at reducing bird collisions. Initially‚ FLAP focused its efforts on nighttime collisions‚ in which migrating birds were enticed to city lights and collided with structures on their path. FLAP Workers and volunteers scoured downtown Toronto in the early hours‚ meticulously gathering the victims of these collisions. However‚ as daylight broke‚ it became clear that daytime crashes posed a greater issue. Over the years‚ FLAP’s committed team has spent countless hours patrolling city streets‚ resulting in the finding of over 85‚000 birds from 172 different species‚ demonstrating their undying dedication to bird conservation. Understanding the severity of the problem Every year‚ millions of birds are killed in North America as a result of window collisions. Dr. Christine Sheppard‚ an expert in bird-window collision research‚ emphasizes the gravity of the situation‚ saying‚ “Scientists estimate that windows kill more than a billion birds every year in North America.” Despite this sad reality‚ there is a possibility for change. Why do birds collide with windows&;#63; Birds‚ driven by instinct rather than perception‚ frequently fail to detect the presence of glass barriers. According to professor of ornithology and conservation biology at Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania Dr. Daniel Klem Jr.‚ “Their behavior and our knowledge of their visual systems inform us that the glass is invisible to them.” This intrinsic inability to recognize glass emphasizes the need to make windows visible to our bird friends. How to make your windows safe for birds Solutions are available in the form of window visibility markers such as decals‚ film‚ or screens. Here’s how to best use them. 1. Marker spacing:  Markers should be closely spaced‚ with no gaps wider than two inches‚ to establish a distinct visual deterrent for birds. Small birds like kinglets and hummingbirds like to slip through tiny openings‚ so tightly spaced markers are a must. Otherwise‚ birds may perceive the gaps between markers as airspace‚ making the risk of collision higher. Research shows that markers positioned within this spacing range are most effective in preventing birds from crashing into windows. 2. Complete coverage:  Treat the entire window surface to remove any potential risks for birds‚ assuring their safety from top to bottom. Any portion left untreated poses a threat to birds‚ as they may still think of untreated areas as open spaces. By fully covering your windows‚ you can create a clear visual deterrent for birds and reduce the likelihood of collisions. 3. Outside Placement:  Place marks on the outside surface of windows to improve visibility in all lighting conditions and keep reflections from becoming lethal traps. Sometimes‚ transparent windows can transform into mirrors‚ rendering markers on the inside surface useless. By placing markers on the outside surface‚ you ensure they remain visible to birds under any lighting conditions. How to identify high-risk windows Begin by determining the windows that are most likely to cause collisions based on reflections‚ visibility‚ and adjacent vegetation. By identifying problem areas‚ you may focus your efforts where they are most important. Effective collision deterrents Empower yourself with viable strategies to protect birds and your view: 1. Acopian BirdSavers:  These innovative cords hang gracefully outside your windows‚ adding a touch of serenity to your home while protecting our avian companions. One of the secrets behind their effectiveness&;#63; They sway gently in the breeze‚ creating a mesmerizing dance that breaks up reflections and alerts birds to the presence of windows. And here’s the best part: they can be spaced up to four inches apart and still work like a charm&;#33; 2. Window screens:  Say hello to window screens&;#33; An ideal solution for safeguarding birds without sacrificing your view. When installed on the exterior of your windows‚ these screens work wonders by eliminating reflections‚ allowing birds to easily spot and avoid potential collisions. What’s more‚ window screens cover the entire surface‚ eliminating the need for precise spacing. This means you can relax knowing that every inch of your window is protected‚ while still enjoying unobstructed views of the outdoors. 3. Feather-friendly DIY tape:  This tape is simple to apply and extremely successful‚ creating visible marks on windows that alert birds to potential threats and save lives in the process. It was one of the first solutions designed to prevent bird collisions and protect our avian companions. 4. Collidescape and Solyx Bird Safety Film:  Collidescape is a perforated film that keeps birds safe while enhancing your privacy and reducing glare and cooling costs. With its innovative design‚ Collidescape is transparent from the inside‚ allowing you to enjoy unobstructed views while appearing opaque from the outside‚ providing much-needed privacy. Solyx Bird Safety Film works similarly but covers the entire window. It comes in a variety of patterns: horizontal or vertical stripes‚ dots‚ frosted birds‚ colorful birds‚ or a trellis pattern 5. Tempera paint: Use non-toxic tempera paint to convert windows into bright works of art while keeping birds safe from crashes. It can withstand rainfall and even storms‚ but to wash it off all you need is a wet sponge. Balancing aesthetics and conservation Many people are concerned about sacrificing their views or their aesthetic preferences. Mesure assures us that once installed‚ markers fade smoothly into the background‚ becoming an intrinsic yet subtle part of your home’s attractiveness and distinct look. With each simple alteration to our windows‚ we can have a significant impact on bird conservation efforts. By banding together and implementing bird-friendly policies‚ we can save countless lives and make the world a safer place for our feathery friends.The post Making windows bird-friendly: a crash course on protecting our feathered friends first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

Could we potentially have bowl season back

'...we are not going to consistently save this speaker...'

The Roman army was the most fearsome and effective military force of the ancient world. With some half a million soldiers at its peak‚ it exercised control over a sprawling empire and conquered swathes of the ancient world‚ from Britain to the Middle East. A highly advanced and meticulously structured machine‚ the Roman army was divided into legions (of several thousand men) and centurions (comprising 80 men). For Roman soldiers on the ground‚ life was arduous and expectations were high: daily marches could cover around 30 miles‚ errors were punished with violence and despite the Roman army’s success‚ the risk of death or injury was ever-present. Here are 10 facts about life in the Roman army. 1. The Roman army was divided into legionaries and auxiliaries There were two main classes of Roman soldier. Firstly‚ there were legionaries‚ who were citizens of Rome and were highly respected soldiers. Members of the second class were auxiliaries‚ who were recruited from the fringes of the Roman Empire and beyond. They would have been paid less and were expected to do the riskier roles‚ like stand on the front lines during military advances and battles. 2. There were half a million soldiers in the Roman army The Roman army is thought to have contained roughly half a million soldiers at its peak. This huge number was made up of smaller units‚ made up of roughly 4‚000-6‚000 soldiers‚ called legions. These legions were then made up of smaller units known as centuries‚ which probably consisted of around 80 men each. Centuries were ruled by a centurion. ‘A Roman Legion’ by Marco Dente‚ c. 1515-1527.Image Credit: Los Angeles County Museum of Art / Public Domain 3. Soldiers sometimes mutinied against their centurions Centurions typically ruled by violence: they would carry a short stick or rod of vine and use it to beat unruly soldiers. In 14 AD‚ a centurion known as Lucilius was referred to by his men as Cedo Alternam‚ which translates to ‘bring me another’. This referred to his practice of breaking his rod over a soldier’s back before demanding he be delivered a new stick. But mutinies weren’t unheard of. Reaching breaking point at the hands of vicious disciplinarians‚ soldiers occasionally rebelled against their superiors. This happened amongst legions of the Rhine in 14 AD‚ when soldiers attacked their centurions and turned their vine sticks on them. 4. Roman soldiers were paid based on their rank and class While it’s difficult to convert denarii (an ancient Roman coinage) into modern currency‚ it’s helpful to reflect the hierarchy of pay in the Roman army. In the 2nd century‚ new legionary recruits would receive the viaticum‚ which was typically 3 gold pieces or 75 denarii. Pay then depended on rank. A 2nd-century Roman papyrus suggests that auxiliary infantrymen were paid around 100 denarii a year‚ while their legionary equivalents received around 300. Moving up the hierarchy‚ centurions would receive at least 1‚000 denarii‚ with the primus pilus (senior centurion) receiving more like 15‚000 a year. 5. Legionaries wore iron-plated armour Roman legionaries typically wore a loria‚ which consisted of iron plates that covered the chest and shoulders. Helmets protected the head‚ neck and cheeks. Weapons varied depending on the legionary’s role‚ but foot soldiers would typically carry a wooden‚ rectangular shield and a pilum (javelin)‚ a dagger and a sword. Auxiliary soldiers‚ on the other hand‚ had oval-shaped shields and wore tunics with chainmail rather than iron-plated armour. 6. Training was rigorous and lasted 4 months Before being dispatched on campaigns‚ new recruits would embark on around 4 months of rigorous training. This training programme began with marching and progressed to sparring‚ weaponry training and strategic exercises such as formation drills. By the time training was completed‚ soldiers would be able to march 20 miles a day in full armour. Some new recruits took on Roman names‚ which were seen as a sign of pride. 7. The Roman army handled civil matters as well as military campaigns While the Roman army was a fearsome force that conquered huge swathes of the ancient world‚ it also served an administrative role. As the way by which the Roman state exercised its power upon its lands‚ the Roman army was also responsible for collecting taxes‚ building structures like forts‚ viaducts and roads‚ policing the people and handling civil administration. In Roman Britain‚ for example‚ the Roman centurion Gaius Severius Emeritus oversaw the restoration of the Roman spas at Bath. 8. Roman soldiers weren’t permitted to marry until the 2nd century Until the late 2nd century AD‚ Roman soldiers were forbidden by law from marrying. Nonetheless‚ surviving documents and tombstones suggest that many flaunted this rule‚ with even centurions and the higher echelons of the military hierarchy taking wives. 9. Soldiers might have to march 30 miles a day while on campaigns Life on military campaigns was by all accounts arduous work. Soldiers would be expected to embark on either an iustum iter (reasonable march) or a magnum iter (heavier march)‚ which meant walking 20 or 30 miles‚ respectively. After the day’s march‚ soldiers would build a camp surrounded by a perimeter wall. They would sleep in leather tents with around 8 tent companions (known as contubernales). The next morning they would destroy the perimeter wall and repeat the process again. 10. Roman soldiers used a ‘tortoise’ formation to defend against enemy projectiles Standard bearers would lead each legion into battle‚ displaying the unit’s standard. Typically‚ when the front line was approaching 30 metres from the enemy’s lines‚ soldiers would hurl their pilums and charge. A rear line would rain projectiles such as spears‚ arrows and stones down on the enemy. Sometimes‚ a ‘tortoise’ or ‘testudo’ formation would be adopted. This was where a group of soldiers formed a barricade of shields around them to guard against enemy projectiles. Jordanian men dressed as Roman soldiers reenact a tortoise formation‚ 2009.Image Credit: meunierd / Shutterstock.com If the battle was won‚ the cavalry would chase any enemy troops trying to flee. Prisoners might be taken‚ the dead would be checked for valuables and their weapons would be seized.

NASA’s Mars rover has discovered at the bottom of a lake on the Red Planet that dried up billions of years ago‚ conditions that could support life. According to a study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets‚ astronomers analyzed data obtained by NASA’s Curiosity rover while exploring the floor of Gale Crater on Mars‚ where there was a lake of water billions of years ago. The rover found large amounts of manganese oxide in local rocks. This mineral is found on Earth in lakes where the right conditions exist for oxidation‚ resulting in the creation of manganese crystals in the presence of oxygen. Scientists believe that Earth-like conditions were present in the Martian lake. This may mean that life could exist on Mars‚ but it is not yet clear how so much oxygen arose on the planet. Due to the large amount of oxygen on Earth‚ which is created by photosynthesis‚ manganese oxide forms on the shores of lakes. It also occurs because microbes help carry out manganese oxidation reactions. But how such a large amount of manganese oxide formed in Gale Crater is not clear. The fact is that so far no signs of the existence of extraterrestrial life have been discovered on the Red Planet‚ and the mechanism for creating oxygen on Mars still remains a mystery‚ scientists say. There is a lot of manganese oxide on Earth and it is actively involved in biological processes. Almost all life on our planet needs manganese for one reason or another. There isn’t much oxygen on Mars right now‚ so scientists are puzzled by how the same amount of manganese oxide formed on the Red Planet that can be compared to the amount found in sedimentary rocks on Earth. According to scientists‚ strong oxidation conditions are needed to create manganese oxide‚ and therefore most likely these minerals were formed in the lake when Mars had a lot of oxygen in its atmosphere. Scientists says that the lake on Mars was habitable for a huge period of time‚ because manganese oxide takes thousands of years to form. But so far scientists do not know exactly where so much oxygen came from on Mars. It is likely that oxygen could have been released from icy deposits when meteorites fell onto the surface of the Red Planet. Scientists believe that if living microorganisms took part in the oxidation of manganese‚ then traces of them may remain in rocks that contain manganese. The post Conditions similar to those associated with life discovered on Mars appeared first on Anomalien.com.

You might be surprised to learn which digital entities are accused of facilitating‚ enabling‚ and even profiting from sexual abuse and exploitation online. Last month‚ the National Center on Sexual Exploitation released its annual “Dirty Dozen” list‚ a campaign bringing attention to entities and companies it believes are complicit in sexual exploitation. This year’s list includes the following entities and the NCOSE's reasoning for including them: Apple: &;quot;This Big Tech titan refuses to scan for child sex abuse material‚ hosts dangerous apps with deceptive age ratings and descriptions‚ and won’t default safety features for teens.&;quot; Cash App: &;quot;This peer-to-peer payment app appeals to pimps‚ predators‚ and pedophiles looking for a covert way to conduct criminal activity.&;quot; Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act: &;quot;The Greatest Enabler of Online Sexual Exploitation. Misinterpretations of Communications Decency Act Section 230 grant Big Tech blanket immunity for any and all types of abuses they facilitate.&;quot; Cloudflare: &;quot;Providing a platform for sex buyers and traffickers. Cloudflare says it wants to build a better internet. So why does it provide services to some of the most prolific prostitution forums and deepfake sites&;#63;&;quot; Discord: &;quot;This platform is popular with predators seeking to groom kids and with creeps looking to create‚ trade‚ or find sexually abusive content of children and unsuspecting adults.&;quot; LinkedIn: &;quot;LinkedIn legitimizes Pornhub and other exploitative enterprises by giving them a platform‚ overlooks deepfake tool promotion‚ and is rampant with sexual harassment against women.&;quot; Meta: &;quot;Meta’s launch of end-to-end encryption‚ open-sourced AI‚ and virtual reality are unleashing new worlds of exploitation.&;quot; Github: &;quot;The vast majority of deepfakes‚ 'nudify' apps‚ and AI-generated child sex abuse content originate on this platform owned by the world’s richest company.&;quot; Reddit: &;quot;Child sex abuse material‚ sex trafficking‚ and image-based sexual abuse hide in plain sight among endless pornography subreddits allowed on this platform.&;quot; Roblox: &;quot;Roblox treats child protection like a game. Among the avatars‚ blocks‚ and buildings‚ kids are exposed to predators‚ rape-themed games‚ and age-inappropriate content like sex parties.&;quot; Spotify: &;quot;Sexually explicit images‚ sadistic content‚ and networks trading child sex abuse material on its platform prove Spotify is out of tune with basic child safety measures and moderation practices.&;quot; Telegram: &;quot;Messaging app Telegram serves as a safe haven for criminal communities across the globe. Sexual torture rings‚ sextortion gangs‚ deepfake bots‚ and more all thrive on an alarming scale.&;quot; What is immediately obvious about the list is that children and teenagers use these applications and programs every day. Children are‚ therefore‚ being exposed to the dangers of sexual exploitation through these entities‚ according to the NCOSE‚ an alarming phenomenon that validates the thesis of psychologist Jonathan Haidt’s newest book‚ “The Anxious Generation.” His central idea goes like this: “We have overprotected children in the real world and underprotected them in the virtual world.” That our children face an onslaught of digital dangers in an increasingly technological world raises an important question: How can parents protect their children in our digital world&;#63; If you asked Haidt for his prescription to the problem‚ he would counsel you not to buy your children a smartphone until they begin high school. And social media&;#63; Don’t let them use it before age 16 — at the earliest. Others believe the dangers that screens and social media pose are too great for any child because‚ after all‚ a person's brain won't complete its development until one's mid-20s. But experts who spoke with Blaze News made it clear: This is not an issue parents can ignore because the well-being of your family and the lives of your children are at stake. &;quot;We have a distorted view of the creepy guy in the van picking up our kids on the way to the playground or the fear of a child climbing too high on the tree‚&;quot; Lina Nealon‚ vice president and director of corporate advocacy at NCOSE‚ told Blaze News. &;quot;But then we give them this very dangerous device with very little oversight or even understanding of the dangers that are literally in the palm of their hands‚&;quot; she warned. Blaze News reached out to each of the companies listed above. None provided a response to NCOSE's allegations.The problem is vast Mental health challenges like anxiety‚ depression‚ bullying‚ suicidal ideations‚ addictions‚ and exploitation — those are just some of the problems with the digital world. But the unique challenge with the digital world is that social media and digital technologies are designed to hook users by hijacking their brain chemistry to keep them scrolling without understanding the consequences of such behavior. &;quot;They are dangerous by their very design because their profit is made by facilitating those connections and making people stay online‚&;quot; Nealon said. This online world is not only dangerous for you‚ according to Nealon‚ but your children are particularly vulnerable. &;quot;First of all‚ there are very little limitations and protections for children online from being accessed by adults in general — adult strangers and certainly predatory adults‚&;quot; she explained. &;quot;Teenagers‚ they are built to seek connection and meet. They want to meet new people. They want to know where they fit into the world. And so these companies — Instagram and Snapchat and TikTok — create this environment where it is very easy‚&;quot; she said. &;quot;It's not only easy for predators to access kids‚ but they're creating the very environment that makes kids more susceptible to sexual abuse and exploitation.&;quot; Through connection‚ likes‚ and shares‚ social media companies tap into the vulnerabilities of children‚ Nealon explained — and make them even more vulnerable. &;quot;These platforms are actually reducing the self-esteem and self-worth of these children‚ and then they are allowing predators and adults to access them to see what they're doing‚ to see those vulnerabilities‚ to actually interact with them‚&;quot; she said. &;quot;So‚ from that perspective‚ it's very dangerous.&;quot; What is most alarming‚ Nealon told Blaze News‚ is that social media and digital companies do not have an incentive to protect your children. &;quot;It's their very business model to put these kids at risk‚&;quot; she said. &;quot;I would say that they themselves are predators in a sense because they are preying on our children and their vulnerabilities for profit.&;quot; How to protect your family Thankfully‚ all is not lost. You can protect your family and children from the harms of the digital world — but it requires intentionality and sacrifice. 1. Educate yourself and your children Melanie Hempe‚ founder of ScreenStrong‚ said the most important step to protect your family from the dangers of the digital world is to educate yourself and your family. &;quot;Get educated and understand how kids are different from adults‚&;quot; Hempe told Blaze News. &;quot;The way an adult uses a screen is very different from the way a child uses a screen. We tend to think our kids are just little adults — and that's not true. They don't have impulse control. They're high-risk takers‚ and they're going to be searching for novelty even more than we are.&;quot; The sheer power of digital technology is exactly why parents need to be educated‚ Hempe explained‚ so that they &;quot;know how to harness the power.&;quot; &;quot;I'm telling you: You pay now or you pay later‚ but someone will pay. And most of the time‚ our kids are the ones paying‚&;quot; she warned. Nealon delivered a similar warning. &;quot;Be educated and keep up with the trends and what's happening‚&;quot; she said. &;quot;There's so much research out there ... and I think the less digital‚ the healthier your kids will be.&;quot; 2. Cultivate a community of shared values Engaging in conversations with other adults where your children are — such as school‚ church‚ and friends' houses — is critical to protect them from the harms of the digital world. &;quot;Having conversations with adults where your children are going to be — at school‚ at church‚ in activities and youth groups — we are constantly shocked at how even leadership‚ people who are supposed to be caring for children‚ don't understand even some of the basic risks of the technology they may be using and actually encouraging kids to use‚&;quot; Nealon told Blaze News. &;quot;It's critical to have those conversations when your child is going elsewhere because you can have all of the safety features at home. You can have the conversations‚ you can be very vigilant‚&;quot; she explained. &;quot;But‚ of course‚ they're out there in the world‚ and you hope that your children will make the right decisions — but they're also children.&;quot; &;quot;So‚ we need to make sure that the other adults that we put in their care are also paying attention and know and can also be sure that they're doing what they can to minimize the risks to the kids‚&;quot; she said. Hempe agreed that cultivating community is necessary when seeking the proper relationship with screens and the digital world. &;quot;It's hard to be alone and doing this on your own‚ especially when you have kids — they want to play with other kids who are not on Fortnite all day‚&;quot; she said. &;quot;You want your kids to be around other kids who have the same values and that are shooting for the high bar like you are.&;quot; 3. Internet filters If you choose to let your children use digital technology‚ consider installing software on devices that filter what they will be able to see and access. &;quot;Make use of technology that's out there to protect your kids online‚&;quot; Nealon advised. Companies like Bark‚ Canopy‚ and Covenant Eyes have built solutions for parents looking for filtering software. The benefit of these technologies is that you can limit what your children can access (i.e.‚ harmful content) while still allowing them to use the internet. 4. Be a coach When it comes to technology and your family‚ Hempe said parents need to be a coach. &;quot;They need us to be like a coach‚&;quot; she said. &;quot;My daughter was in gymnastics for years‚ and I learned so much about coaching‚&;quot; she explained. &;quot;I learned the coach has to be present when a child is doing something that's kind of dangerous. The coach has to be there. The coach can't be in the other room. And she learned that‚ 'Hey‚ I need my coach right here to spot me.' That's how it is with screens: We have to be there to spot our kids.&;quot; Hempe said it's not about being &;quot;controlling&;quot; or &;quot;legalistic.&;quot; But she warned that giving children unfettered access to technology not only exposes them to the harms of the digital world — like screen addictions and sexual exploitation — but it's like letting your children drive a Mack truck on the interstate. &;quot;They're not going to be safe on the highway when they're 10 years old driving the Mack truck‚&;quot; she explained. Tools‚ not toys The truth is that technology is not going anywhere. In less than 20 years' time‚ we've gone from the iPhone to AI‚ and Gen Z cannot fathom a life without social media or the digital world. It is up to parents‚ then‚ to take serious the relationship their family will have to technology. Exploitation‚ digital addictions‚ and attachment dysfunctions are just some of the ramifications that parents are now facing because of technology‚ screens‚ and social media. When discerning how to move forward with technology‚ remember this one principle from Hempe: Screens are a &;quot;tool — not a toy.&;quot; If you can remember that‚ Hempe promised you will figure out how to raise children in a digital world‚ all while protecting your family from the built-in harms of the technology. Like Blaze News&;#63; Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here&;#33;

Letting the masses decide the party’s nominee for down-ballot offices is tantamount to letting the elites and special interests decide the outcome. We are stuck with a uniparty because incumbents are rarely defeated in district races and are almost never defeated in primaries for statewide offices — including senator and governor. The only way to change the party in one election cycle is by transitioning from popular primaries to representative conventions where high-information delegates may separate the frauds from dedicated conservatives. Money can buy you name ID in popular primaries‚ but it can’t buy you love from highly informed delegates and precinct captains. If Utah would only return the glory to its convention system‚ it would stand as a model for the nation. Republicans have liberal governors ruining red states. This is why we only hear about the successes of Ron DeSantis in Florida and few others. Western red states — from Utah and Idaho to Wyoming and North Dakota — are full of progressive Republicans. It is practically impossible for insurgent candidates to raise enough money to win statewide elections‚ and it is essentially unheard of to knock out a sitting governor in a primary. And yet‚ if Utah’s convention had been the final deciding election for the nomination‚ Governor Spencer Cox would not only have been defeated‚ but he would also have lost by a 2-1 margin. GOP delegates met on Saturday for the Utah nominating convention and selected state Representative Phil Lyman as the party’s nominee for governor with 67.5% of the vote. The delegates are so much better informed about the issues‚ true records‚ and motivations of each candidate that a sitting governor without a known scandal only received a third of the vote from the delegates. Sadly‚ in recent years‚ the party has gutted the power of the convention by allowing the loser to collect signatures and head to a popular primary‚ which is decisive. Cox has already qualified for the GOP primary on June 25 by gathering 28‚000 signatures. Can you imagine the sort of party we would have if the convention delegates had the final say in every red state&;#63; Thus far‚ however‚ we have failed to knock off a single House incumbent in a primary. Had the convention results been binding‚ 1st District Rep. Blake Moore would have been booted. He was defeated by 10 points in the final round of voting by political novice Paul Miller‚ who criticized Blake’s votes for the spending bills. Miller would never stand a chance in a popular primary‚ and unfortunately Blake has collected enough signatures for the primary. As vice chairman of the House Republican Conference‚ Moore is the seventh-ranking Republican member and will have infinite money to run a campaign full of oleaginous political ads misrepresenting himself as a conservative. In District 2‚ incumbent Republican Celeste Maloy was edged out by former Green Beret Colonel Colby Jenkins. Maloy was a congressional staffer who took over for her moderate Republican boss‚ former Rep. Chris Stewart‚ and has voted with leadership. Jenkins was endorsed by Senator Mike Lee‚ himself a product of convention success. Lee is one of the few people to successfully knock off a long-standing incumbent Republican from the right because in 2010 the convention was still decisive. And speaking of the open Senate race‚ Trent Staggs beat out Rep. John Curtis by a 2-1 margin at the convention for the nomination to replace Mitt Romney. Again‚ Staggs would never have had the ability to crush a sitting congressman in an open primary‚ although he does have a boost from Trump and his network. Ironically‚ Mitt Romney also lost the convention in 2018 to Mike Kennedy‚ a member of the legislature‚ but was able to advance to a popular primary‚ where his war chest and superior name ID won the day with low-information voters.It's unclear whether these insurgent candidates can carry their momentum into the primaries‚ but the convention demonstrates that meaningful party change requires moving away from popular primaries. The problem is that although most Republican voters have similar expectations for their candidates‚ they are often unaware of the specific records and associations of their particular Republican representatives. Every Republican‚ particularly in conservative districts‚ runs broadly on conservative talking points. The one with the most money and name ID espousing those talking points usually emerges as the winner‚ but more often he is a creature of the uniparty engaged in perfidious campaigning to disguise the truth. Money can buy you name ID in popular primaries‚ but it can’t buy you love from highly informed delegates and precinct captains. Popular primaries were an innovation of the Progressive Era over a century ago‚ and now we know why. They ensure that no matter who wins the general election‚ the progressive always comes out on top.

My dear conservative friends‚ we need to have a talk. This is more of an intervention than anything else. You must stop protecting institutions that are committed to destroying your way of life. The university system hates you. It always has. It will continue to hate you until it is dismantled brick by brick and replaced with something else. Something better. The universities will just never be into you‚ and if two factions of the left want to destroy themselves while shutting down college campuses‚ that’s what we in politics like to call a win. You don’t need to ride to the rescue. You aren’t the white knight in this scenario. Just grab some popcorn and enjoy the show; I promise this will work out in your favor if you let it. Red-state governors should maintain the safety of those under their care but otherwise leave leftists to their own devices. Let those factions fight. Protests surrounding the Hamas terror attack on October 7 in Gaza and the subsequent response by Israel have now raged on college campuses across the country for weeks. The establishment left is nominally pro-Israel due to a legacy attachment to the nation and the need to maintain a healthy relationship with major donors. The more radical leftist vanguard has drunk deeply from the well of wokeness and made the natural connection between anti-European decolonization rhetoric and Israel‚ which it now identifies as a white colonial oppressor. Jews have been stalwart Democratic voters for a long time and have avoided being dropped to the bottom of the party’s oppression hierarchy‚ but that arrangement is now being called into question by other members of the coalition. The left has imported and elevated a generation of immigrants who feel no attachment to America’s past relationship with Israel‚ and many in the vanguard come from cultures that are openly hostile to the Jewish nation. The progressive coalition has always been tenuous‚ and October 7 created an eruption across the most critical fault line that has manifested as an intra-leftist civil war playing out on college campuses. Most opposing political parties would recognize this as a gift from on high. The Republicans‚ on the other hand‚ have several specific hang-ups that compel them to solve this problem for their opponents. The conservative impulse to protect institutions is an admirable one. In a healthy society‚ institutions are the formal structures that help to enshrine a culture’s values and transmit them to the next generation. But American society is not healthy‚ and the long march through the institutions perpetrated by the left has installed a hostile ideology deep into the heart of the university system. College campuses are not places of learning where promising young minds develop the leadership skills necessary to forge a brighter future. These institutions are progressive seminaries where students go deeply into debt to learn how to hate their parents‚ religion‚ and nation. This ideological poison is then distributed through every major corporation‚ piece of entertainment‚ and news headline as college graduates take their places as leaders and managers throughout society. Conservatives have complained for decades that the public schools are hostile indoctrination centers designed to secure leftist hegemony‚ but when the pandemic shut down these enemy institutions‚ conservatives became the most vocal proponents of reopening them. The same dynamic is currently playing itself out on university campuses. Conservatives may complain about the education system‚ but they are ultimately defenders of the status quo and would rather see these institutions continue to operate‚ even if they are calling for the literal destruction of the United States. Part of this response is linked to the natural and admirable conservative impulse toward order. Conservatives recoil at the idea of violence and intimidation on these campuses‚ and where Republican governors are in charge‚ they should absolutely protect the physical safety of all students. But there is also an impulse among many Republican politicians to punish public criticism of Israel‚ and this is a serious problem. The right has spent endless hours mocking the leftist ideas of hate speech and safe spaces‚ but now many GOP politicians are suddenly obsessed with implementing exactly those policies. Governors like Greg Abbott of Texas and Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma‚ for example‚ have come out in favor of cracking down on “hate speech” and anti-Semitism in the wake of these protests. It is becoming hard not to notice that most of these politicians took no action as anti-white rhetoric and demonstrations dominated academia for the last decade‚ to the point where that ideology has now made its way into several best-selling books. The Democrats are already facing a critical election in which they must run a deeply unpopular dementia patient against a former president who maintains a strong base of support despite being hit with an endless barrage of fake criminal charges. The very last thing the left wanted was a civil war on college campuses that exposed the disastrous contradictions at the heart of its coalition. The only thing that could possibly rescue the Democrats from this nightmare scenario would be footage of Republican governors sending in police to violently silence protesters. This would bail out the establishment and allow mainstream liberals to put the woke vanguard in its place while pointing at the GOP as the real enemy‚ a unifying symbol of authority to hate. I know the gut instinct of the right is to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory‚ but the GOP must sit on its hands and let this play out. Try for a moment to imagine any scenario where two factions inside the right are destroying each other and humiliating themselves in an election year and the left dives on that grenade for conservatives. You can’t‚ because it would never happen. Again‚ red-state governors should maintain the safety of those under their care but otherwise leave leftists to their own devices. Let those factions fight. In the worst-case scenario‚ some kids don’t get to attend Hate America 101. And the best case&;#63; Things get so bad that the Democratic coalition rends itself asunder while desperate parents plead for the right to reform the university system from the ground up. I am begging you‚ my conservative allies‚ take the easy win just this once.

The controversy surrounding the Escape From Tarkov Unheard Edition seems to have opened the door for a new realistic FPS. Although it faced bad reviews at the start‚ owing to supposed performance problems‚ this new rival to EFT‚ The Division‚ and Arma is already starting to turn things around - user ratings are picking up‚ and while it’s been available through Steam Early Access for a short two days‚ it’s already sold more than 400‚000 copies. If you want a change from Tarkov‚ this might just be for you. Continue reading Hyper realistic new FPS game sells 400‚000 copies in just two days MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best FPS games‚ Gray Zone Warfare System Requirements‚ Best survival games