How to Win an Election in Ancient Rome JamesHoare Fri, 10/25/2024 - 12:22

An anti-Israel TikToker who filmed herself in a viral video ripping down flags outside a New Jersey Greek restaurant in the mistaken belief that they were Israeli flags was charged with bias and intimidation. On March 11, Amber Matthews, 23, who names herself “Ambamelia” on TikTok, ripped down the flags at Efi’s Gyro in Montclair, New Jersey. She posted the video of the incident on October 15. The restaurant’s owner, Efi Mihalis reported the incident in March which led to an investigation. “Authorities reviewed security footage and found the suspect was in the establishment a week prior handing out fliers in support of Palestine, but had no leads until Matthews posted her now-viral video of the encounter last week,” The New York Post reported. In the video, Matthews snaps, “Look at that s***. … Free Palestine, b***h … I don’t stand for this. I don’t stand for genocide. I don’t stand for genocide. I don’t support it. There’s a genocide, you know that, right? They are killing children, You’re proud of your heritage? Y’all understand there’s a genocide, right? There’s nothing against people who are Jewish, but this is not okay.” Mihalis came outside to inform her that it was a Greek restaurant. “Oh, I thought it was Israel. My bad. Really?” Matthews responded. “Oh, s***.” NEW: Pro-Palestine Astronaut tears down Greek flags outside a New Jersey restaurant thinking they were Israeli “The time I mistakenly thought the flag for Greek was for Israel and took the restaurant’s flag down OMG” “Look at that s–t,” she says in the footage…. “Free… pic.twitter.com/IPleXkEWH0 — Unlimited L's (@unlimited_ls) October 16, 2024 The scurrilous claim of Israel committing “genocide” in Gaza flies in the face of several salient facts: Hamas hides their terrorists among civilians, and Israel has complete air superiority over Gaza. If Israel wished, it could be completely indiscriminate about saving members of the population, a notion that is inconceivable considering Israel’s efforts to evacuate areas before bombing and its attempts to bring aid to the population, which is routinely stolen by Hamas. MATT WALSH’S ‘AM I RACIST?’ COMING TO DAILYWIRE+ OCT. 28 As Retired Rear U.S. Adm. Steven B. Kantrowitz and Retired U.S. Vice Adm. Herman A. Shelanski noted last January: When Israel targets an apartment building in which a Hamas commander is present or under which Hamas has hidden its rockets, even if civilian casualties ensue, it has likely acted legally. Civilian infrastructure, when used to hide terrorists or their weapons, is a legitimate military target. Israel intensely scrutinizes its targets to evaluate the possibility of civilian casualties and uses active notifications — making phone calls or dropping leaflets — to encourage civilians to flee targeted areas. If too many civilians nevertheless remain, Israel has called off strikes. But, when it judges that the risk to civilians does not outweigh the benefit of the strike, Israel attacks lawfully. Additionally, as John Spencer, chair of urban warfare studies at the Modern War Institute (MWI) at West Point, pointed out in March in Newsweek: In my long career studying and advising on urban warfare for the U.S. military, I’ve never known an army to take such measures to attend to the enemy’s civilian population, especially while simultaneously combating the enemy in the very same buildings. In fact, by my analysis, Israel has implemented more precautions to prevent civilian harm than any military in history—above and beyond what international law requires and more than the U.S. did in its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. … Israel has made over 70,000 direct phones calls, sent over 13 million text messages and left over 15 million pre-recorded voicemails to notify civilians that they should leave combat areas, where they should go, and what route they should take. They deployed drones with speakers and dropped giant speakers by parachute that began broadcasting for civilians to leave combat areas once they hit the ground. They announced and conducted daily pauses of all operations to allow any civilians left in combat areas to evacuate. … The current Hamas-supplied estimate of over 31,000 does not acknowledge a single combatant death (nor any deaths due to the misfiring of its own rockets or other friendly fire). The IDF estimates it has killed about 13,000 Hamas operatives, a number I believe credible partly because I believe the armed forces of a democratic American ally over a terrorist regime, but also because of the size of Hamas fighters assigned to areas that were cleared and having observed the weapons used, the state of Hamas’ tunnels and other aspects of the combat. That would mean some 18,000 civilians have died in Gaza, a ratio of roughly 1 combatant to 1.5 civilians. Given Hamas’ likely inflation of the death count, the real figure could be closer to 1 to 1. Either way, the number would be historically low for modern urban warfare.

This is the fifth in a series of articles from Alliance Defending Freedom on the state of free speech in America today. October 21 to 27 is National Free Speech Week. * * * For more than a decade now, activists and government officials have been threatening to separate something indivisible: artistic expression from the artists who create it. These relentless threats to artistic freedom have been grounded on the idea that artists, whatever their chosen milieu, can be compelled to express messages that violate their personal beliefs. Those who refuse to do so — no matter how courteous, kind, compassionate, or respectful they are to those demanding their expression — are regarded by those activists and officials as fair game to haul in to court for judgment. This coercion forces artists to create deeply personal works based on an ideologically prescribed script — or else. Or else … what? Ask Jack Phillips, the cake artist from Colorado whose polite decision 12 years ago not to create a custom cake expressing a view of marriage he doesn’t believe has precipitated death threats to himself, protests and boycotts, the loss of most of his staff, and continuous legal proceedings. Phillips is hardly the only cake artist in Colorado; he’s not even the only cake artist in his Denver suburb. And like many Americans, he holds to certain sincere biblical beliefs about marriage that have been — and continue to be — the consensus of countless people around the world. But they are not the chosen beliefs of a coterie of activists and state officials, who for more than a decade have used the power of the courts to pressure Phillips and other Colorado artists to either rethink or set aside their convictions – or face punishment. Last week though, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled in Phillips’ favor. The court dismissed another case against Phillips that threatened his freedom to create consistent with his beliefs because the attorney who filed the case did not follow the right process. Phillips is now an undefeated, three-for-three, in defending his free-speech rights. Phillips’ most recent victory comes a little more than a year after the U.S. Supreme Court’s historic ruling last year in 303 Creative v. Elenis. In that case, Colorado threatened the First Amendment rights of Denver graphic artist Lorie Smith and her design studio, 303 Creative — under the same law the state and others have used to target Phillips — by compelling her to create custom websites that celebrated a view of marriage she disagrees with. The Supreme Court said that compulsion violated the First Amendment and reaffirmed the bedrock principle that the government cannot force Americans to express views that conflict with their own. MATT WALSH’S ‘AM I RACIST?’ COMING TO DAILYWIRE+ OCT. 28 Smith and Phillips share another crucial principle: they serve and collaborate with anyone — including people who hold different views and beliefs from their own. But there is, and always has been, a difference between treating every individual with respect, and promoting everything they request to be said. Being part of a community means showing one another genuine courtesy and compassion. Being part of a free society means letting others decide for themselves what they will believe and express. That’s why, as Smith says, her win is a win for all Americans — those who share her faith convictions, and those who don’t. It’s a win, especially, for artists whose gifts are inseparable from their individuality, and whose artistic skills cannot be, and should not be, conformed to any governmental mandate. * * * Jake Warner is senior counsel for appellate advocacy with Alliance Defending Freedom (@ADFLegal). The view expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

We’re less than a week away from the spookiest day of the year. The leaves are turning colors, pumpkins are popping up everywhere, and soon, little costumed goblins will line the streets. The sky recently gave us quite a show with the gorgeous colors of the Hunter’s Moon. According to experts, we’ll have an equally exciting display leading up to October 31. A headless comet will soar through the air just in time for Halloween. This isn’t a trick, we promise you’re in for a treat. View this post on Instagram A post shared by NASA (@nasa) A Headless Comet Will Bring Some Extra Sizzle to Halloween. According to NASA, the Asteroid Terrestrial-Impact Last Alert System, or ATLAS, recently discovered Comet C/2024 SI. If the comet stays there, we may even be able to see it during the daytime. “However, I want to avoid raising unrealistic expectations. From the information I’ve been able to find so far, I expect that at night this comet will only be visible with binoculars or a telescope, as its path will not bring it very close to the Earth. For the Washington, D.C. area (and similar latitudes) this comet will be above the horizon before morning twilight begins from now to October 21 as the comet falls towards the Sun,” Gordon Johnston explained on the NASA website. The comet got the nickel and the nickname “Headless Comet” because experts expect it will fizzle out before Halloween. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be a show. “If it doesn’t break into pieces too small to see around closest approach, it should also be visible (with binoculars or a telescope) from November 2 to December 19 as the comet speeds away from the Sun,” Gordon added. Gordon also shared an interesting tidbit about Halloween. “We currently divide the year into four seasons based upon the solstices and equinoxes, with winter beginning on the winter solstice in December. This approximates winter as the quarter of the year with the coldest temperatures. Much of pre-Christian northern Europe celebrated ‘cross-quarter days’ halfway between the solstices and equinoxes, and divided the seasons on these days. Using this older definition, winter was the quarter of the year with the shortest daily periods of daylight, with autumn ending and winter beginning on Samhain, traditionally celebrated on October 31st or November 1st (the middle of our fall). Our Halloween customs are thought to have come from these earlier celebrations of fall’s end and winter’s start.”  We love all things Halloween and hope we’ll see the headless comet flash through the sky. The source of this story’s image can be found here. The post A “Headless Comet” Will Be Scaring Stargazers For Halloween appeared first on InspireMore.

Formed by a massive landslide in the days of yore, the Old Man of Storr rock formation is a sight to behold. The landmark on the Isle of Skye sits majestically atop Trotternish Ridge. Many legends surround the formation, making it an enticing place to visit. The “Old Man” is the tallest peak in the formation at 160 meters. The shorter pillars are the “Storr” and surround the pinnacle. “Storr” is Norse for “Great Man.” One of the legends about the formation is that a giant lived on Trotternish Ridge. Following his death, he was buried on the hillside with his thumb remaining above ground to mark his grave. This story has more colorful versions, but we’ll stick with the thumb. Another legend involves an older couple who lived on the mountain. As the two grew older, the trip home became increasingly difficult. Her husband carried her when the old woman could no longer make it. When that became too difficult, he wished his wife could go everywhere he went. Nearby faeries overheard the wish. In a genuine faerie manner, they granted the old man’s wish by turning the humans into the rock formation. Image from YouTube. The elevation over the Sound of Rasaay is over 2,300 feet. Visitors can hike to the Old Man of Storr formation, but the terrain can be steep. If you would like to see what the hike is like, this video offers a great look at the scenery around the legendary outcropping. The Old Man Of Storr Is A Favorite Movie Landscape They call the area surrounding the Old Man of Storr the “Quiraing.” It may seem familiar because it is in many famous movies, including “The Wicker Man (1973), Prometheus (2012), Snow White and the Huntsman (2012), King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017) and Transformers: The Last Knight (2017).” If your travels take you to the Isle of Skye, at least look up at the Old Man of Storr if you can’t make the hike. The panoramic views of the Isle are impressive from any vantage. Please share if visiting the Isle of Skye is on your bucket list. You can find the source of this story’s featured image here. The post Old Man Of Storr: Stunning Scottish Rock Formation Will Steal Your Breath! appeared first on InspireMore.

A man who visited Syracuse, North Carolina had his pickup truck stolen—along with his father’s ashes still lodged under the back seat. Mr. Tom Rice had driven into town for his nephew’s wedding, and parked his blue Ford F-150 SuperCrew in a garage adjacent to the Courtyard Marriot on Fayette Street. It was a beautiful […] The post Relief as Man Recovers His Stolen Car–and His Father’s Ashes Stowed Under the Back Seat appeared first on Good News Network.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. While some people, for some reason – looking at a meme representing Kamala Harris and her running mate Tim Walz may believe these are actually “Dumb and Dumber” characters – the Meta Oversight Board reminded Meta, and the world, that one meme to this effect was satirical. And – would clearly be understood, by a vast majority of those coming across it, as such. Certainly not as a pair of characters from a buddy comedy movie then – but in fact, politicians and presidential/vice presidential candidates in a US election, the Board found of the meaning of the meme’s content. The point is, that while the imagery is not flattering, it is also not “bullying” or “harassing.” And, said the Board – basically – shame on Meta for censoring a meme that clearly falls under the satire category, and shame on Meta for using the “bullying and harassment” platform policy to censor it. Meta did respond to a user appeal by reinstating the post. But given the proximity of the US presidential elections, the case and reporting about it gains in gravity, especially since stifling of legitimate speech on platforms with huge reach ahead of a vote – even if found to be wrong – is after the election, a fait accompli. It can be analyzed and appealed, to but typically makes little difference in redressing any adverse impact. Even the Meta’s Board reaction at this point can be seen as too little, too late – it’s now two weeks before the election date. But both Meta and the Board could cite this example in the future as having done something (“better”) about the censorship that’s pervaded, with a very clear slant, Meta’s properties for the past almost ten years. The Board’s reaction was to a photo posted back in August which plays on the “Dumb and Dumber” promo poster, to superimpose images of Harris and Walz onto the main protagonists of the comedy. A user lodged a complaint and Meta censored it for “derogatory sexualized photoshop or drawings.” “Are you kidding me?” – this is what the original poster basically said while appealing against the decision to censor their meme. Now – the Oversight Boards makes a note of the dangers that “over-enforcing the Bullying and Harassment policy can have, especially in the context of an election, as it may lead to the excessive removal of political speech and undermine the ability to criticize government officials and political candidates, including in a sarcastic manner.” If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The post Meta Slammed for Censoring Meme: Satirical Take on Kamala Harris Sparks Oversight Board Reprimand appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

A new study by Talker Research finds 87% of dog owners in serious relationships are more likely to believe in “love at first sight” with animals than people. The research, which was commissioned by The Honest Kitchen, also had some interesting insights about dog owners with partners and their love for their pets. Talker Research conducted the survey with 2,000 dog owners in serious relationships. In the study, results found that 80% of the respondents had an “instant connection” with their dog, compared to 69% who said the same about their partner. However, one in five (19%) said it still took time to build a bond with their dog. And of those dog owners, 20% questioned whether they made the right decision in adopting their pet because they didn’t have an instant connection. But like any blooming and beautiful relationship, 74% of the respondents think that the bond between them and their dog is stronger because they had to build it over time – definitely something that they find worth the wait! The survey also asked the respondents if there was anything they wish they knew before adopting their dog. “A variety of these answers related to food — which may not be surprising, as 76% said food is their “love language” and they take great care in feeding their dog “only the best,”” Talker Research reveals. Other respondents would have liked to know the “true investment of time” that comes with dog ownership, and how similar it is to raising human children. Despite some hurdles, some dog owners are still surprised at how happy they’ve become after getting a dog. They wrote that if they knew “the amount of joy they bring, I would have gotten one sooner.” Results found this to be true as 83% of the respondents said that pet ownership is better than what they expected. And the same number of respondents agree that while pet ownership isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, they wouldn’t have it any other way. Miki Dosen, CMO at The Honest Kitchen said, “There’s so much to look forward to when you have a dog, but we wouldn’t be honest if we didn’t acknowledge how hard it can be, too.” “At the end of the day it’s the full experience — both highs and lows — that make it one of the most meaningful relationships people have in their lives.” You can find the full data of the survey here.

The Stench of Panic Is In the Air on Social Media