If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. During an appearance on the Tim Dillon podcast, Senator and Vice Presidential candidate JD Vance shared his views on the expanding influence of government surveillance, expressing deep concern over its implications for American democracy. During the hour-long conversation, Vance addressed various issues, including his stance on the intelligence community, Big Tech’s role in censorship, and the Patriot Act’s lingering effects on American privacy and security. Vance argued that many in government prioritize the survival and growth of intelligence agencies over addressing the everyday issues Americans face, such as inflation and housing. In a pointed critique, he sarcastically stated, “I recognize that the biggest crisis facing my fellow Americans is not that they can’t afford groceries or housing, but that a CIA bureaucrat making $190,000 a year might have to find a job in the private sector.” He went on to emphasize that the increasing prioritization of surveillance infrastructure overshadows crucial American values, adding, “It’s really you know, a win-win…Kamala Harris’s defense…she’s made it harder for Americans to afford housing but that’s been in the service so the CIA can more easily spy on our fellow Americans.” Related: Wiretaps Exposed: How Encryption Backdoors Open the Floodgates for Hackers Vance pointedly criticized the legacy of the Patriot Act and its unintended consequences, stating, “Part of the infrastructure [China] hacked into was built on top of surveillance systems that were implemented in 2001—Patriot Act-style stuff. So, you know, we’re worried about the civil libertarian element of that, and rightfully so…I don’t want American citizens to be spied on. But the more important issue, in some ways, is we’re creating a backdoor in our own technology networks that our enemies are now using. That’s crazy.” This sentiment extended to the technological infrastructure supporting government surveillance. Citing a recent Wall Street Journal (WSJ) article, Vance revealed that foreign adversaries, notably China, had reportedly hacked parts of the Verizon and AT&T networks—systems Vance claims were initially established under the 2001 Patriot Act. He argued that these surveillance systems, while ostensibly set up for domestic security, have created vulnerabilities for adversarial infiltration, saying, “We’re creating a back door in our own technology networks that our enemies are now using. That’s crazy…no one is going to accept responsibility for it.” The Patriot Act, officially known as the USA PATRIOT Act (Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act), was enacted in October 2001 in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Its primary aim was to enhance national security by expanding the surveillance and investigative powers of US law enforcement agencies. Key provisions included increased authority for monitoring phone, email, and financial records, improved information sharing between government agencies, and broader powers. While intended to prevent terrorism, the act has faced criticism for infringing on civil liberties and privacy rights, sparking ongoing debates about the balance between security and individual freedoms. Related: The FBI Wants More Mass Surveillance But Can’t Keep Your Data Safe The WSJ recently reported a major cybersecurity breach involving Chinese hackers infiltrating US telecom networks, specifically targeting infrastructure used for government surveillance and wiretapping. The hackers, associated with the group known as “Salt Typhoon,” gained access to networks operated by companies like AT&T, Verizon, and Lumen Technologies. Their intrusion may have allowed them to intercept sensitive internet traffic, including data from systems that fulfill court-authorized wiretap requests. According to reports, the hackers could have maintained this access for several months, posing substantial risks to both national security and the privacy of millions of American customers. If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The post JD Vance Slams The Surveillance State, Government Backdoors appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. That pandemic is over – but UK’s authorities appear very keen to launch another one, this time political, where various government departments seem to be lining up proposals aimed at keeping as many people as possible at home. And those ministers look very optimistic about the surveillance capabilities of various wearables, all the way to enabling “virtual prisons” to function (this time for actual criminals, not the general population caught up in lockdown measures.) Those in charge of healthcare would like people to basically take primary care of their own health whenever possible, and are ready to hand out wearable devices for patients to monitor anything from blood sugar to cancer recovery at home; and now Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood is considering “virtual prisons.” What would be the difference between house arrest and these “alternatives to jail”? One is that the first is usually handed out for minor crimes, or to allow inmates to serve the last six months of their prison stretch under these conditions (“HDCs” as this is known in the UK – involving some level of technology-driven surveillance) – while the other is new, and involving a new role of tech, in Mahmood’s thinking. Now, there are GPS tags, phones, and watches (all “smart” – i.e., very capable of round-the-clock surveillance – but would that be legal, and in what jurisdictions, remains to be clarified). Where Mahmood (and those behind the policies he’s the face of) are concerned the solution to “jails running out of space” (just as hospitals are apparently running out of staff and capacity) is to make people serve their serious, 5+ year sentences – at home. And, just as working from home seems to be facing a backlash, in the UK at least – healing yourself, or imprisoning yourself, in your own home, paying your own utilities, etc, seems to be gaining traction. Labour is not shy to “work” with Tories, especially on initiatives that are fairly puzzling, if not offensive, to common sense. “Theoretically a judge could hand down a sentence of house arrest. We have an opportunity now to reshape and redesign what punishment outside of a prison looks like,” said Mahmood. According to the Telegraph – Mahmood is expected to confirm David Gauke “the former Tory justice secretary (as) head of the review of sentencing that aims to ensure there will be enough space to lock up the most dangerous criminals, encourage offenders to turn their back on crime and expand punishments outside prison.” According to opponents from the ranks of civil and digital rights advocates, this is yet another dystopian exercise worthy of criticism, not least because the plan includes learning from (other) authoritarian surveillance states who spy on their own citizens – perhaps simply, at this time, because they do it more effectively than the UK. We know what all this says about those run-of-the-mill authoritarian regimes – but what does this “ambition” tell us about the UK authorities? According to the Sun, the question, and the problem are real – the newspaper cites “an insider” as saying that the real or perceived problem of overcrowded – as we now know them – prisons, ought to spill over into the rest of society. If the report is to be taken for granted – and it cites an unnamed insider – “We (UK) need to learn from the surveillance states who spy on their own citizens and use the same tactics with our criminals.” It might sound incredulous to those whose point of view is still that governments like that in the UK are, as far as democratic practices, pure as the driven snow. But the reality seems to be that the official position is moving ever closer to a place where “maximum security” prisons can when all’s said and done – be set up anywhere. Including a person’s own home. Now, remember the days when technology was the force for the good, and in service of people using it. And now – apparently, just forget those days. “Those under home detention curfews are in practice under a form of house arrest, with a tag on their ankle, and a sensor in their home, they are placed under curfews, generally for 12 hours each day,” said Mahmood. “In some ways, punishment outside a prison can be even more restrictive than prison.” It does warrant repeating that once widespread use of facial recognition tech as a surveillance measure is in place in a society, it means that everyone is subject to it – rather than just those currently treated as suspects and/or convicted inmates. Once set up and running, this system can very easily in the future be “repurposed” in a number of scenarios – including capturing individuals who break no law, but are simply political/ideological/speech dissidents. If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The post Home Is the New Prison: UK’s High-Tech Digital Prison Plans Should Spark Privacy Fears For Everyone appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

Got some piles of old newspapers in your garage? Bring them back to life with these easy yet crafty (and practical) projects you'll definitely love! Repurposing Ideas for Old Newspapers I know there are a lot of people out there who have switched to more of a paperless lifestyle. The bills come via e-mail and the newspapers are read online, BUT, there are still some of us who enjoy turning the pages of the newspaper and the scent that comes from the freshly printed ink on paper. For those of you who still read the news the old-fashioned way, I have some repurposing ideas for those old newspapers piling up. Of course, there’s always the recycling bins which is great! 1. Paper Mulch image via tallcloverfarm If you have a paper shredder you can use it to do the shredding for you. If you don’t have one you can just use scissors to cut the papers up or just rip them into pieces. What I prefer to do with my paper mulch is to use it as the ground layer and then I use wood mulch over top of it. This process seems to help keep the weeds out even better. You don’t have to use it as a secondary, it can be used on its own, but it’s a little light. 2. Paper Mache Projects | Paper mache can be fun for all ages. Easter is on its way and using a balloon, newspaper strips, glue or flour paste mixtures you can create an awesome Easter Egg. Here’s a great video tutorial you can follow. I like to do a cracked egg and stash the goodies inside of it! 3. Liners We all know some craft projects can get pretty messy, it doesn’t matter how old we are, it is what it is! Just line the work area with a few layers of the newspaper, I like to tape it down so I know it’s not going anywhere. Peel it off when you’re done and toss it in the tinder box. *Be sure if you plan to burn the newspaper after use that you use non-toxic paints!* This lining method is also an amazing way to cover windows, trim, and furniture when painting indoors! It’s also much cheaper than tarps and covers. Although tarps and covers are good to have if by chance paint is actually spilled. 4. Recycle It Into Clean Paper I remember doing this in school when I was a little girl and I was amazed. There is a process to it but this video explains the whole process in less than 10 minutes. You can even turn it into colored paper using dyes and inks. 5. Kindling & Fire Starter image via archivodiario Well, newspapers are pretty dry stuff so it makes great tinder and kindling to start campfires. If the weather is damp and rainy I will even use it to get my wood stove going in a pinch. You can just store it and crumble it as it’s needed or prep it if you’d like. 6. Cleaning Windows image via cutefetti Don’t waste another paper towel trying to clean the windows. There’s just something about the newspapers that seem to eliminate any streaks and they also clean them better. It also saves you money and is more eco-friendly. I have a little box I use to keep my dirty window paper. Once it dries back out it can be used as kindling. Just a quick side note, I use eco-friendly cleaners that are free of harmful chemicals, hence safe to burn. 7. Insulation For The Coop | If you have an abundance of saved newspapers you can use it as insulation in the chicken coop and other animals housing. I prefer to use it in between the walls just as you would housing insulation, but it can be laid down for bedding which will help keep them warm. Be careful – goats will sometimes make a meal out of it. 8. Make Art image via iheartartsncrafts There’s so much more than paper mache projects that old newspapers can be used for. For the toddlers, you can use the old paper for finger painting projects. Just tape the paper to their easel and let them make art. You can also create collages and sculptures, paper airplanes etc. 9. Package Padding | The process will go much faster if you have a paper shredder but if you don’t you can always cut it up by hand. As a matter of fact you don’t even have to cut it up you can just crumble it up. Put it in boxes to protect fragile items when shipping them. I personally like to shred it if I am sending smaller stuff but I use the crumbled technique for heavier items. Works just as good as those styrofoam peanuts. 10. Moving | Just as you can use the old newspaper padding for shipping fragile products you can also use it for packing up the house and moving. My mother always like to wrap her china and glassware directly in the newspaper before placing it into the boxes with the crumbled sections of the newspaper. It adds extra cushioning and keeps it from getting scratched. 11. Small Wall Murals | The pages of the newspaper are pretty big when you open them up. You could take the pages of the newspaper and tape them together to make one massive painting page for the kids. Just tape or glue the pages together starting in the lower corner of the wall from there add more until you have it to the desired size. Once you have a small wall mural you could take it down, roll it up and start over. This allows you to swap out from the old to new and change things up for fun. Aside from old newspapers, old magazines can also be turned into a DIY home decor. Check out this video and find out how to make one: Finding new ways to use old things is one of my favorite things to do! When something’s reusable why not find a way to put it back into use. I hope some of these ideas spark your creative interests. What do you think of these old newspapers repurposing ideas? Which one will you try out soon? We’d love to hear some of your ideas too so drop us a line in the comments! Looking for DIY projects for your creative kiddos? Check out these 30 Projects for Crafty Kids! Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook!   Featured image via pexels

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As early as January of 2017, Democrats were running around on liberal cable news, declaring the 2016 election stolen and Donald Trump’s presidency illegitimate. Left-wing journalists, far from pushing back against these unfounded claims, in fact amplified and repeated them. Yet this past year, many of those same journalists have repeatedly grilled Republicans and demanded that they accept the results of the 2024 election “no matter what happens.” Talk of Russians “hacking our election” (what does that even mean?) and Trump’s supposed illegitimacy was so prevalent back that they could fill an entire weeknight edition of ABC’s World News Tonight or the NBC Nightly News. Here’s a particularly thorough one boasting a runtime of just under 24 minutes. Of course, that all changed when Trump began challenging the results of the 2020 election. Since then, the media have coined the term “election denier,” and they are currently attempting to turn the mere questioning of election results into a de facto disqualifying act for any Republican member of Congress. Watch the video below for a sampling of how obsessed today’s pro-DNC journalists are with demanding that Republicans never question the result of any future election:

You have often heard that spaying or neutering your dog is absolutely necessary. The reasons supporting spaying or neutering your dog are compelling, including reducing overpopulation, minimizing health issues, and combating behavioral issues. However, as more people are beginning to realize, not all treatments suit every dog. Before you make an irreversible decision for your dog, you need to be aware of some potential side effects that spaying or neutering may induce in your dog. Once you have all the information for and against this procedure, you can decide what is best for your dog. The 10 Reasons Not to Spay or Neuter Your Dog 1. It Can Cause Weight Gain Spaying or neutering your dog leads to lower hormone levels. These hormones are often instrumental to your dog’s metabolic rate, and once they decrease, so does your dog’s metabolism. This leads to a decrease in energy. If you overfeed or under-exercise your dog, there is a much higher chance that your dog will gain extra weight. In fact, spayed or neutered pets can be almost twice as likely to struggle with obesity. Additionally, post-surgery dogs may have an increased appetite, making it much easier to put on weight. Image Credit: Mary Swift, Shutterstock 2. There May Be Higher Chances of Torn Ligaments Torn ligaments are painful and difficult injuries to recover from. If your dog tears a ligament in their leg, they will likely be unable to walk for more than a month after surgery. Spaying or neutering your dog can increase the risk of these types of injuries. According to the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, spayed females are at the highest risk of suffering a torn ligament, while neutered males follow in second.1 Intact male dogs are at the lowest risk. 3. It Can Increase the Chances of Hip Dysplasia If a dog is spayed or neutered too early, the risk of developing hip dysplasia increases. Hip dysplasia is a complication that results in the loosening and displacement of the hip joint. This leads to pain and dysfunction, such as limping, lameness, bunny-hopping, difficulty moving, and sitting awkwardly. A study found that dogs castrated before a year of age were two times more likely to suffer from hip dysplasia.2 Certain dog breeds are at a higher risk of developing hip dysplasia, such as large breed dogs. If your dog is among these high-risk breeds, you may reconsider spaying or neutering. You’re welcome to use our images, but we require you link directly to this site for credit (ex. Image from PangoVet.com) 4. It May Cause Urinary Incontinence A risk related to spaying and neutering is urinary incontinence, meaning you may need to anticipate more urinary accidents in the house than before. It has been shown that early spaying of females can increase the chances of urinary incontinence. 5. Your Dog May Develop Hypothyroidism Since the procedure of spaying or neutering removes your dog’s gonads, your dog’s endocrine organs might also be affected. According to the Cornell Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center, hypothyroidism may be more prevalent in spayed females and neutered males.3 This is a condition in which your dog does not produce enough thyroid hormones. Clinical signs associated with hypothyroidism include weight gain, lethargy, and chronic infections. Image Credit: Valentina De Menego, Shutterstock 6. Chances of Developing Cancer May Increase It may be scary to hear this, but there is a chance that spaying or neutering your dog may increase their odds of developing certain cancers. Spaying and neutering your dog can reduce certain types of cancers related to the reproductive system; however, the same procedure may introduce a higher risk of developing other cancers. For instance, spaying your female dog can make her five times more likely to develop cancer in her heart. 7. They Might Become More Likely to Suffer Anxiety Studies have shown that neutering may be linked to higher levels of fear and anxiety in dogs. Common fearful behaviors in dogs include undesired urination or bowel movements, panting, pacing, destruction, and excessive vocalization. Image Credit: smrm1977, Shutterstock 8. Your Dog May Develop Pancreatitis Pancreatitis is a condition in which the pancreas is inflamed. This can lead to significant issues, such as appetite loss, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, lethargy, dehydration, and even irreversible damage to your dog’s digestive organs. According to a study published by the American Veterinary Medical Association, being spayed or neutered was one of the factors that increased the odds of pancreatitis in dogs. 9. Aggression Issues May Become Worse Although it is often stated that neutering helps to quell aggressive behaviors, there has been conflicting evidence to the contrary in recent years. Some studies have indicated that neutering male dogs too early may lead to increased aggression. Aggression is a serious issue. More than one million people are bitten by a dog each year. Likely, that number is much higher due to the number of unreported cases. Image Credit: OlgaOvcharenko, Shutterstock 10. It May Impact Your Dog’s Lifespan It is frightening to think that spaying or neutering could negatively impact your dog’s lifespan, but there is some evidence to support the notion. One study performed on Rottweilers found that females who were spayed during the first 4 years of life had a reduced life expectancy. On the other hand, castrated dogs are more likely to live a longer life relative to their reproductively intact counterparts. Alternatives to Spaying and Neutering After reading through some possible side-effects of spaying or neutering, you may be feeling hesitant about putting your dog through this procedure, even if you do not want them to be able to reproduce. Thankfully, there is an alternative option to spaying and neutering. An ovariectomy is an alternative to spaying. In spaying, the ovaries and the uterus are removed, but an ovariectomy only removes the ovaries. On the other hand, a vasectomy is an alternative to neutering. These options offer you the ability to sterilize your dog with fewer effects on the production of hormones. Conclusion Which procedure is best for your dog: spaying and neutering or ovariectomies and vasectomies? In truth, it is unclear which methods are best for your dog at this moment. Spaying and neutering may work well for some dogs, while alternatives may be necessary for others. In the end, your veterinarian can help you determine which surgery is ideal for your pet. Sources https://puphelp.com/reasons-not-to-neuter-your-dog/ https://petnutritionalliance.org/site/pnatool/does-neutering-make-dogs-and-cats-gain-weight-and-become-obese/ https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/musculoskeletal/torn-knee-ligament-dogs https://www.ors.org/Transactions/50/1311.pdf https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/musculoskeletal/c_dg_hip_dysplasia https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11787155/ https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/urinary-incontinence-dogs https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/endocrine/c_dg_hypothyroidism https://humanesocietyofnortheastgeorgia.org/how-spaying-neutering-helps-prevent-cancer-in-pets/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10225598/ https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/behavioral/c_dg_fears_phobia_anxiety https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7222805/ https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/dog-pancreatitis-symptoms-and-treatment https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/dog-behavior-and-training-neutering-and-behavior https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/behavioral/c_dg_aggression https://www.petmd.com/blogs/dailyvet/2009/October/05-4785 https://www.petmd.com/blogs/dailyvet/2009/October/02-4770 Featured Image Credit: PeopleImages.com – Yuri A, Shutterstock The post 10 Vet Reviewed Reasons You Should Not Spay or Neuter Your Dog appeared first on PangoVet.