'This should not be a political issue'

Two shelter kittens waited for a new start until a kind person took both home, changing their world completely. Cheddar and BrieJenCheddar (ginger) and Brie arrived at a municipal shelter when they were about two weeks old. Tiny and vulnerable, they huddled together for comfort.The shelter environment was far from ideal for the kittens, who required round-the-clock care and were at risk of illness. In urgent need of foster care, they awaited someone to scoop them up and bring them home.Jen, a foster volunteer for Kitty of Angels, received a message from the shelter networking volunteers and knew she had to help. "I immediately said I could take them," Jen shared with Love Meow. JenThe kittens arrived in foster care with some sneezes and sniffles. Though Cheddar had a crusty eye, he remained cheerful with his sister close by. Nestled in a cozy incubator and accompanied by a heartbeat plush toy, they quickly settled in."Brie latched onto the bottle right away. Cheddar was a little confused at first, but it only took two or three feeds for him to get it." JenThe kitten cuddled up to their snuggle toy, drifting off to the sound of its heartbeat until they awoke for their next meal."When I foster bottle babies, I always have a toothbrush handy, and I brush the kittens with the toothbrush after each feeding. The toothbrush mimics grooming by the mama, and this gives them comfort and teaches them how to groom themselves." JenThe moment Jen opened the incubator, Brie sprang awake, crying for attention. Her brother, Cheddar, soon joined her in a duet, meowing in harmony until they received their bottle.As they drank the formula, wiggling their ears in delight, the only sound was the smacking of their contented sips. JenCheddar's eyes cleared up and brightened. With plenty of food and TLC, he grew more active, wriggling around and burrowing under the bedding. "I came in and couldn't find Cheddar. He tucked himself into the blanket.""He does the best milk comas. As soon as he is done with his bottle, he just falls asleep where he is. These two babies are just an absolute joy." JenBrie was always the first to seek attention and her bottle, while Cheddar patiently waited his turn. They were inseparable like two peas in a pod, except at bottle time—unless Brie wrapped her arm around her brother.For a brief moment when Cheddar was given the bottle, Brie "didn't understand why she was alone for 30 seconds." Jen"Brie's coloring is so unique. I can't fully decide what it is yet. But I can't wait to see how it develops. She is such a sweet little doll."The cheese siblings grew by leaps and bounds, ready to graduate from their incubator to a roomy playpen where they could practice their steps, build leg strength, and learn to use the litter box. JenAs Brie took in her new surroundings, Cheddar stayed by her side, clinging to his faux mama and looking to his sister for guidance. Once he sensed his newfound freedom, his personality began to shine."I always love those first few seconds in their new space where they wonder what is going on. These babies were a little surprised but also so brave." Jen"Cheddar is such a typical orange cat. He does everything with everything in him. He plays hard, purrs hard, and cuddles hard. He purrs so loudly when he eats.""Brie is just a sweet, delicate angel. The second I sit down, she hops in my lap and then hops onto my shoulder or back. She would be thrilled if she could just sit on my shoulder and play in my hair all day." JenThe kittens have discovered a penchant for lap snuggles, often competing for their foster mom's attention and belly rubs.With Jen in the pen, they love climbing all over her like a "human cat tree," and then wrestling and cuddling beside her, enjoying every moment of their kittenhood. JenShare this story with your friends. More on Brie, Cheddar, and Jen's fosters on Instagram and Kitty of Angels on Instagram.Related story: Kitten Remained so Calm While Receiving Help to Walk Again, Now He Dashes Around as Most Playful Cat

In the last few days, over 180 car-sized drones have reportedly been seen flying over New Jersey, and somehow, to quote the local vernacular, "Nobody knows nuthin'.”It doesn’t really matter where the drones have come from. It could be, according to Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.), Iran. (The Pentagon denies this.) It could be Russia or China. It really doesn’t matter.The orders should be: 'Locate them, follow them home, and bring the whole world down on whatever you find.'New Jersey residents haven’t quite realized the real drones are Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and their own Gov. Phil Murphy. Buttigieg, a DEI appointee, did nothing when a hazmat train wreck devastated East Palestine, Ohio. Meanwhile, Murphy’s response has been little more than hand-wringing and complaints.Buttigieg, supposedly in charge of all modes of transportation as head of the U.S. Department of Transportation, has been missing in action. This, despite car-sized, remotely piloted drones buzzing through the countryside.Pete, it’s your airspace — do something! Get FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker moving. If one of these drones causes a mid-air collision or falls from the sky, innocent Americans will be injured or killed. Photo courtesy of Chuck de CaroAs someone who had the wonderful opportunity to actually fly and control car-sized RPVs (that's old school for unmanned aerial vehicles) in the 1990s, I can assure you that the Federal Aviation Administration was watching every minute, ready to slap a $37,000 fine on me if I violated any regulations. So where is the FAA now?If the FAA can "see" the drones with radar, it should pass the information to Flight Aware so that every agency can determine the location of the intruders.Meanwhile, as long as the Pentagon is looking down at its boots and kicking pebbles around, perhaps Gov. Murphy could stop whining about how he needs “more help from the federal government, we need them to be bigger, faster, stronger” and show some testicular fortitude.Apparently, the governor doesn’t remember that he is commander in chief of the New Jersey National Guard, and, as such, he can order, under Title 32, the New Jersey Army Guard's 1-150th Assault Helicopter Regiment to launch standing helicopter patrols around the affected airspace. That particular regiment has UH-60L Blackhawks, which can carry long-range fuel tanks for great on-station time.Their orders should be: “Locate them, follow them home, let them land, and bring the whole world down on whatever you find.” If possible, shoot the drones down over uninhabited terrain or fly just above a drone and drop an A-22 cargo net over it, causing it to crash.In the meantime, ground-based agencies can attempt to get audio recordings to determine the noise signature of the unknown drones for comparison to known drones. Such data could help track down the manufacturer and ultimately the operators of the aircraft.While all this is ongoing, maybe Mayor Pete can use the last few weeks of his tenure to actually do his job.The new administration can’t arrive soon enough.

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