Life is always exciting for Blake Shelton. For decades, he’s entertained us with his country music and spent 23 seasons as a coach on The Voice. He met his wife, Gwen Stefani, on the show and now the pair spend time raising her three sons in Oklahoma. Blake Shelton’s stepson’s Kingston, 18, Zuma, 16, and Apollo, 10, keep the family busy. They love music, sports, and spending time together. He told Entertainment Tonight there is always music at home. “It’s to the point that it’s getting a little ridiculous,” Blake said. But he doesn’t actually seem to mind. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Blake Shelton (@blakeshelton) Blake Shelton Loves Sharing Music With His Stepsons Blake told ET that he and Gwen will both work on their projects, and the boys will start playing music of their own. Blake said everyone sings different songs and plays instruments, all while the TV is on. “I swear I’m not kidding,” he joked. It’s been a busy few months for Blake, who announced he’s working on a new reality competition show called The Road. And if that wasn’t enough, he’s also been making new music. His newest single, Texas, dropped last week, and fans love it. Blake credited Post Malone with his new sound. He explained after returning from The Voice; he wasn’t sure what he would do. The Post asked him to collaborate on Buy Me A Drink, and things changed. “I told him that really got me excited again about what I do and what I feel like I was born to do,” Blake Shelton shared. It’s an exciting time to be Blake Shelton. His stepsons and wife always encourage him to try new things, and he’s their number one fan as well. He told ET he enjoys watching Gwen on The Voice, but if she can’t win it all, he’d love to see a Michael Bublé victory. This story’s featured image is by Featureflash Photo Agency via Shutterstock. The post Blake Shelton Described Life With His Three Stepsons & We’re Not Surprised By What He Said appeared first on InspireMore.

Move over, sniffer dogs! Scientists in Tanzania are now using African giant pouched rats to locate smuggled wildlife products such as pangolin scales, rhino horns, elephant tusks, and illegal timber. The organization Apopo‘s effort capitalizes on these rodents’ exceptional sense of smell, potentially providing law enforcement with a new tool in combating a $20 billion-a-year illegal wildlife trade. Apopo, a Belgian-founded NGO located in Tanzania, has already trained its rats to detect landmines and disease, demonstrating that these small animals can tackle significant hurdles. The rats, named after conservation luminaries such as David Attenborough, are being trained to detect out-trafficking species. “These rats have incredible noses,” Apopo researchers claim, “and they’re showing that they can remember scents for a very long time—possibly as long as sniffer dogs.” How are the rats trained? Training these rats is not a simple process. Initially, the Apopo team exposed eight rats to fragrances derived from pangolin scales, rhino horn, wood, and ivory. They began with easy tasks, such as rewarding rats with food pellets if they held their nose over one of these scents for three seconds. Over time, the training became more intense. Rats wore little red vests tied to leashes and equipped with a beeper. When the rats found contraband, they would use their front paws to inform handlers and receive a food incentive for their discovery. One of the most striking features of Apopo’s research is the rats’ long-term scent retention. After eight months of no exposure to pangolin, wood, or rhino horn scents, the rats still properly detected these compounds, indicating a memory comparable to trained sniffer dogs. However, Apopo scientists warn that their accuracy with elephant ivory may require further testing, as the ivory was stored with rhino horn, causing some rats trained on rhino horn to detect ivory as well. A successful real-world test After considerable training, it was time to see how these rats would perform in the field. In 2023, Apopo conducted a real-world simulation in Tanzania’s major port of Dar es Salaam. The rats had to discover hidden illegal wildlife products within stacks of cargo containers. According to Apopo, the rats correctly identified 85 percent of the planted samples, even via the vents in shipping containers. The findings point to a possible future for rats as sniffer animals in high-volume shipping zones where illegal wildlife items are frequently transported. Why rats might be game changers in anti-trafficking efforts African giant pouched rats are inexpensive, easily trainable, and have a remarkable sense of smell. Their small stature also enables them to fit into spots that larger animals may miss, such as container vents and restricted cargo compartments. Furthermore, the use of rats provides a sustainable and scalable component to wildlife preservation operations. As conservationists continue to fight the illegal wildlife trade, these tiny heroes could have a significant impact. Source study: Frontiers in Conservation Science—Ratting on wildlife crime: training African giant pouched rats to detect illegally trafficked wildlife  The post Rat patrol: African rodents trained to sniff out smuggled wildlife products first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

With 60 of the 112 seats in the state legislature, New Mexico women have set a new benchmark in American politics. This unprecedented female majority represents both progress and tenacity. Eleven new female lawmakers have joined the assembly, inspiring joy and optimism among proponents of gender equality. Voters in both political parties were eager to hear from female candidates, continuing a tradition that started to gain national traction during the 2018 election campaign and has only become stronger since. Incoming Democratic Senator Heather Berghmans praised the momentum. “I think that people are excited to see new ideas and new faces and that women have been the ones to step up to run.” Increasing diversity of values and representation The diverse backgrounds and ideals of New Mexico’s new female lawmakers demonstrate the state’s dedication to inclusive representation. Nicole Chavez, a Republican who will be the first Latina lawmaker in her area, stressed the value of preserving political diversity. “I don’t believe in just recruiting women,” Chavez shared. “I think we should have diversity of all values.” After the untimely death of her son, who was involved in a drive-by shooting, Chavez gained a seat in an Albuquerque district and is well-known for her support of victims of crime. By advocating for harsher punishments for certain crimes and opening doors for those who have served time in prison, she intends to have a direct influence. Her campaign’s tagline, “mother, business leader, fighter,” reflects her dedication to family and community ideals. A history of women in New Mexico’s government When it comes to empowering women in politics, New Mexico has long been a pioneer. The state’s highest court includes a majority of female justices, and women have served four terms in a row as governor. Public land commissioner, state treasurer, and secretary of state are among the important statewide offices held by women. According to Kelly Dittmar, director of research at the Center for American Women and Politics, women frequently flourish in legislative positions with strong support systems and vigorous recruitment efforts. The Emerge program has been essential in helping New Mexico’s Democratic women establish these networks. Emerge “is sort of the soup-to-nuts of campaigning,” as Democratic Representative Reena Szczepanski put it, providing instruction in campaign strategy, communications, and financial planning. The impact of generational change In the New Mexico legislature, Heather Berghmans will be the youngest senator at age 36. Her campaign resonated with voters who were looking for fresh ideas since it addressed topics like housing and homelessness. The challenge of running a campaign while caring for an 8-month-old daughter has motivated Berghmans to strive toward laws that would help working families. She added that early childhood care is a particularly significant issue for her now that she is a mother, saying, “It has maybe made things more clear.” The national context  New Mexico joins an increasing trend toward gender balance in U.S. state legislatures while also setting a new record. With female representation in all legislatures nearly tripling from 11 percent in 1980 to 33 percent in 2023, the proportion of women in statehouses nationwide has been continuously rising. Nevada achieved a female legislative majority in 2018, making New Mexico one of just two states with this distinction. The momentous accomplishment coincides with a growing number of obstacles facing women in politics. Nevertheless, New Mexico’s female lawmakers remain steadfast, contributing new perspectives and a dedication to tackling the problems that most affect their communities. A significant event with lasting impact The historic female majority in New Mexico’s legislature is proof of the strength of community support, grassroots initiatives, and tenacity. It is clear that these women are prepared to lead, motivate, and implement significant change for the future of New Mexico when the legislature meets in January.  The post Women in New Mexico make history with legislative majority first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

It's official: Bo Nix should be on your radar

In the wake of the Democrats' trifecta defeat, losing the White House, the Senate, and the House to Republicans, the Dem circular firing squad has unleashed a fusillade of recriminations. One of the major targets has been former Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The Axios headline on this article sums it up nicely: "House Democrats Sick of Pelosi." On the liberal-media side, MSNBC's Symone Sanders has been leading an anti-Pelosi charge. Last week, we caught Sanders sarcastically asking—given Pelosii's reputation as a great vote counter—"where's her calculator now," after the Dem debacle? Sanders opened fire on Pelosi again on Saturday's edition of MSNBC's The Weekend, which Sanders co-hosts. The show played a clip of Dem House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries attacking Trump's cabinet nominations. Singling out RFK Jr. as an example, Jeffries asked whether he was really "the best America has to offer?" In response, Sanders said:  "That's why he the Leader. And that's what Speaker Emerita Pelosi should have been doing with her little press appearances! This is why Hakeem Jeffries is the Leader of the caucus." Sanders was referring to comments Pelosi made suggesting that Biden should have quit the race earlier, permitting candidates other than Kamala to vie for the nomination. Co-host Michael Steele seemed taken aback by Sanders' attack on Pelosi, uttering a cautionary "well, well, well," and thrusting his hand out to her in remonstration [see screencap.] And while the Democrats are preoccupied with internal squabbles, Trump and his allies charge ahead with nominations and policy implementation.  Here's the transcript. MSNBC The Weekend 11/16/24 8:07 am ET MICHAEL STEELE: You've got these scenarios with the various agencies, and I've been trying to keep my head really kind of cool and level about this, because the idiocracy is now in control of our government. And we're sitting here. I am listening to some people. I have been with some people recently in which one or two were very surprised that this was happening. And I say, well, you voted for Trump. Why are you surprised? Because the man has always told us what it is he wants to do. So in that vein, you have, I wanted to -- play it, Leader Jeffries -- and his thinking about these particular picks. Let's listen to Hakeem. HAKEEM JEFFRIES: Former administration, and the former president, promised on the campaign trail that America would have the best economy, the best border security and the best administration possible.  And the question that we all have to ask when we're confronted with nominations like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Are these the best individuals available to the incoming Trump administration? Robert F. Kennedy Jr., by way of example, the best that America has to offer? SYMONE SANDERS: Mmm, mmm. That's why he the Leader. You know -- STEELE: Right. SANDERS: And this is what Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi should have been doing when she had her little press appearances! This is why Hakeem Jeffries is the Leader of the caucus. STEELE: Well, well, well [thrusts hand out toward Sanders to remonstrate.]

University of Virginia Refuses to Learn, Continues Progressive Ideological Enforcement

Mollie Hemingway Gives Powerful Defense of Gaetz Pick for AG: 'We've Had a Department of Injustice'

It may be possible to make use of recess appointments to speed up the confirmation of President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told "Fox News Sunday."

Former Romania and United States coach Bela Karolyi, who trained Nadia Comaneci to become the first gymnast to score a perfect 10 at the Olympics, has died aged 82, USA Gymnastics said late on Saturday.

Republican congressmen at the UN COP29 Climate Summit in Azerbaijan tout CO2 reduction schemes. .paywall-container {position: relative;display: flex;flex-direction: column; min-height:60px;} #paywall_overlay…