If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman isn’t giving up on his controversial digital ID project, Worldcoin. He, or, rather, formally – the startup behind it, that he is behind, i.e., Tools for Humanity – has instead gone for a rebrand. Worldcoin is now called “World” – so good luck (re)searching that online. Still, “world” combined with the concept of “proof of personhood” and Altman’s name should return some interesting results. What we already know is that World(coin) works by hoovering up people’s most sensitive, unique biometric data, particularly that contained in their eyes. The original idea was to incentivize people to participate by offering some crypto change in return. But now, the focus is reported to have moved away from that (apparently failed) direction to producing iris-scanning devices. The task of those is still “proof of personhood” – tech that provides digital ID. And a recent event held in San Francisco heard all about it. Tools for Humanity presented a new version of “Orbs” – a tool designed to scan people’s eyeballs (irises) in order to identify them. If you’re not sure what role Altman, OpenAI, “World,” Tools for Humanity – its current and previous targets – play in all this, it appears to be “confusion by design.” TechCrunch reports that Tools for Humanity CEO Alex Blania not only declared Worldcoin is a name that “just doesn’t work anymore” – Blania also shared that Altman now “spends a good chunk of his time working on World(coin)” – but also that “World(coin)’s cryptocurrency” might, going forward, get integrated into (OpenAI’s) ChatGPT. At this point, a tech industry neophyte might say – “I’ll have whatever Altman’s having, thanks.” But, the intent doesn’t appear as convoluted and as over-ambitious as it seems. There is a big push from various corners around the globe right now to usher in digital ID, and it’s no wonder various companies – however, they choose to obfuscate it – are positioning themselves for those incoming “base infrastructure” contracts. Altman and Blania, the reports said, described their effort as a four-step one: Orb is already here, and so is “a distributed ownership network with blockchain.” “Redistributing the benefits of AI” is cited as one of those steps – and take that definition as you will – but the fourth, scale, is very real. “World(coin) had several announcements (…) including the launch of a new blockchain and a new app, but they all revolved around scaling up the company’s 7 million verified humans to something much larger,” reported TechCrunch. If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The post Worldcoin’s New Identity: The Rebrand That’s Still Eyeing Your Biometrics for Its Digital ID appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

Theories about the causes of the Salem witch trials range from hallucinogenic mushrooms to psychological disorders and economic pressures. However, a new scientific study may have identified the real cause behind the infamous events in Massachusetts that led to the trial of more than 200 people and the execution of 19 by hanging over 300 years ago. The study points to the invention of the printing press in the 15th century as a crucial factor. By greatly increasing the spread of information, the press helped disseminate books on “demonology,” which fueled fear of witchcraft. One such book, Malleus Maleficarum (or “The Hammer of Evildoers”), portrayed witchcraft as a sinister conspiracy against pious society, in contrast to earlier views of witches as isolated village figures or ignorant peasants. As the first printed guide for witch hunters, Malleus Maleficarum was widely influential. Between 1486 and 1669, 36 editions were printed in Germany alone, sparking witch hunts across Europe. Although the book itself never reached the United States, its ideas spread with European colonists who settled in Massachusetts. Researchers believe the message of the Malleus Maleficarum spread rapidly through “ideational diffusion”—the adoption of new ideas that led people to rethink the world and change their behavior. Title page of the book (Image credit: library.wustl.edu). This was made possible by the invention of the printing press in 1440 by German inventor Johann Gutenberg. His creation accelerated the spread of knowledge and literacy, sparking an intellectual revolution that reshaped societies worldwide. Written by Dominican monk Heinrich Kramer, Malleus Maleficarum was first printed in 1486 and quickly became one of the most widely read books on witchcraft, representing an early form of mass media. Its teachings initially reached literate Europeans but soon spread to the illiterate through conversations and community interactions. Eventually, the influence of Malleus Maleficarum made its way to the United States, introducing a heightened fear of witchcraft that led to widespread persecution. While witches had been part of folklore since ancient times, the book’s theological explanation of witchcraft, combined with practical advice on how to investigate, interrogate, and convict witches, brought unprecedented fear. The result was tens of thousands of deaths worldwide. According to the study, published in Theory and Society, researchers mapped witch hunts across Central Europe from 1400 to 1679 and compared them to where and when Malleus Maleficarum was printed and distributed. They found that cities located closer in time and space to the book’s publication were more likely to initiate witch trials. This research underscores the role of the printing press in spreading new perceptions of witchcraft, indirectly contributing to the witch hunts that culminated in the Salem trials. These trials began when a group of young girls in Salem, Massachusetts, claimed to be possessed by the devil and accused several local women of witchcraft. The resulting hysteria swept through colonial Massachusetts, leading to the first trial in 1692. Bridget Bishop, the first convicted, was executed by hanging that June. Within months, more than 200 people were accused of witchcraft, and 19 were executed. Years later, several accusers, mostly teenage girls, admitted they had fabricated the charges. In 1702, the Massachusetts General Court declared the trials illegal, and by 1711, it had overturned the convictions of 22 victims. Today, the Salem witch trials remain one of the most notorious cases of mass hysteria in colonial America. The post How a 15th-Century Book Fueled the Salem Witch Trials appeared first on Anomalien.com.

PBS News Hour sought to answer the question on Friday of why Kamala Harris is struggling with male voters. Both New York Times columnist David Brooks and Washington Post associate editor Jonathan Capehart agreed that it is important not to “downplay the role that sexism” plays here. As the lone female in the segment, host Amna Nawaz thought maybe her guests could help her explain the phenomenon, “I just have to say, you know, I'm asking all the smart men in my life this question because Harris continues to have weaker support with younger men, men who supported President Biden. And I just wonder why you think that is. Why do men have a problem supporting her?”     The nominally conservative Brooks began with his usual wishy-washy centrism, “Yeah, well, young men have been drifting away from the Democratic Party for a long time. And that's especially accelerating. And I don't want to downplay the role that sexism may play here.” He added, “Young men are — have lower graduation rates, lower grades, lower work force participation rates, higher unemployment. Young men have been suffering and struggling over the last 10 years in an accelerating form. And so, if you're alienated, Trump is sort of your meal ticket.” Brooks concluded by claiming that the podcasting sphere creates “this nutrition system that's feeding them some reinforcement, and it's pretty conservative.” Capehart followed up by agreeing, “That Trump meal ticket is junk food. And I agree with you. I take everything that you say. I see all of what you're saying, but I also see what former President Obama was saying in that campaign office in Pennsyl — yes, in Pennsylvania, when he was talking specifically to African American men.” He then turned to sexism, “But when you watch the whole clip, he also mentions Latino men, white men, Asian men, that this is a bigger — this is a bigger issue, this concern — and not to downplay the role sexism plays into this. I do think it's part of it and we can't just ignore it. We have to talk about it.” Capehart wrapped up with more praise for Obama, “So, all those people who were tut-tutting President Obama for saying what he said, I applaud him for saying what he said, because we need — we have to talk about it. Otherwise, we will never — we will never overcome it.” Ironically, Brooks and Capehart’s pleadings not to ignore the role sexism allegedly plays in Harris’s struggle with male voters is exactly why she is struggling. The idea that men are unwilling to consider putting a woman in a position of high power is just one of the anti-male stereotypes that the left frequently employs. Telling men they need to just shut up and get in line behind the left’s agenda will continue the trend. Here is a transcript for the October 18 show: PBS News Hour 10/18/2024 7:36 PM ET AMNA NAWAZ: This other issue of the gender gap that we have seen, just a huge gender gap, with a huge male advantage for former President Trump and a huge female advantage for Vice President Harris. And I just have to say, you know, I'm asking all the smart men in my life this question because Harris continues to have weaker support with younger men, men who supported President Biden. And I just wonder why you think that is. Why do men have a problem supporting her? David? DAVID BROOKS: Yeah, well, young men have been drifting away from the Democratic Party for a long time. And that's especially accelerating. And I don't want to downplay the role that sexism may play here. But, you know, young men are — have lower graduation rates, lower grades, lower work force participation rates, higher unemployment. Young men have been suffering and struggling over the last 10 years in an accelerating form. And so, if you're alienated, Trump is sort of your meal ticket. And if you're alienated, well, the number one predictor of whether a young guy is going to go Democrat or Republican is this question, do you like Joe Rogan? And so there's a podcast industry serving these young guys. And it tends to be pretty conservative industries, ramping all the way to the insane Andrew Tate. And so I think they're alienated because of what's happened to young men recently. There's this nutrition system that's feeding them some reinforcement, and it's pretty conservative. JONATHAN CAPEHART: That Trump meal ticket is junk food. And I agree with you. I take everything that you say. I see all of what you're saying, but I also see what former President Obama was saying in that campaign office in Pennsyl — yes, in Pennsylvania, when he was talking specifically to African American men. But when you watch the whole clip, he also mentions Latino men, white men, Asian men, that this is a bigger — this is a bigger issue, this concern — and not to downplay the role sexism plays into this. I do think it's part of it and we can't just ignore it. We have to talk about it. So, all those people who were tut-tutting President Obama for saying what he said, I applaud him for saying what he said, because we need — we have to talk about it. Otherwise, we will never — we will never overcome it.

Black men are turning their backs on Vice President Kamala Harris and turning out record levels of support for former President Donald Trump. Among black male voters, 20% said they would vote for Trump even though just 4% considered themselves Republican, according to a New York Times/Siena poll from Oct. 12. Trump is on track to perform better among young black men than any other Republican candidate since 1960, according to CNN pollster Harry Enten. Harris has managed to hold on to only 41% of support from black men ages 18-44, which is a 12-point deficit from President Joe Biden's numbers and roughly half of former President Barack Obama's support among the demographic, according to Enten's analysis. These figures have sounded the alarm for the Harris campaign. In an attempt to regain their support, the Democratic presidential hopeful curated a policy pitch to the "brothas," as Obama said. Obama lectured other black men during a campaign appearance last week in an attempt to boost turnout for Harris. "We have not yet seen the same kinds of energy and turnout in all quarters of our neighborhoods and communities as we saw when I was running," Obama said to a roomful of black men. "Now, I also want to say that that seems to be more pronounced with the brothas. So if you don't mind, I'm just going to speak to y'all directly." "You're coming up with all kinds of reasons and excuses; I've got a problem with that," Obama continued. "Because part of it makes me think, and I'm speaking to men directly, part of it makes me think that, well, you just aren't feeling the idea of having a woman as president, and you're coming up with other alternatives and other reasons for that." Harris has made other attempts to bridge the widening gap between herself and black men. Harris unveiled her "opportunity agenda" for black men on Monday, featuring policy proposals like forgivable loans for "black entrepreneurs," bolstering cryptocurrency so black men "know their money is safe," and legalizing recreational marijuana, despite overseeing over 1,900 marijuana convictions during her tenure as San Francisco district attorney. However, the campaign's last-ditch effort to regain the votes fails to address the actual policy priorities of black men. As in other demographics, the economy remains the top issue for roughly a quarter of black men, according to the recent NYT/Siena poll. While Harris' pitch to black men is tailored to address issues with a racial backdrop, only 4% said equality is their top priority and just 2% said the same for racial issues. Democratic political pundits like former CNN host Don Lemon are even admitting that "Kamala Harris has a problem with black men." "There's a problem," Lemon said. "I went from battleground state to battleground state. ... It was not curated. I went up to people just doing man on the street and said, 'Who are you gonna vote for?' Black men, time after time after time, they said, 'I'm voting for Donald Trump.'" Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Photo of Trump at Al Smith Dinner Spawns Hilarious Copy Pasta

Bill Maher Asked This Panel of Dudes for Harris Why Kamala's Losing the Male Vote Big Time

One of the greatest things about Baldur's Gate 3 is the endless amounts of replayability. With the recent patch including mod support, many fans are replaying the game for whole new experiences.

We Need to Talk About Democrats Treating American Voters Like They Are Abject Morons

Sheet Pan Turkey Dinner is a whole meal made with seasoned turkey tenderloins, a homemade velvety gravy with a side of candied sweet potatoes, and some cheesy garlic green beans! A THANKSGIVING DINNER ON ONE SHEET PAN I absolutely adore this Sheet Pan Turkey Dinner. It’s especially great during the fall time and I love that it can be made for Thanksgiving since it has all those favorite Thanksgiving flavors. Whether you are a couple who just doesn’t want to do a whole big dinner just for the holidays or maybe you are just craving those Thanksgiving flavors (without the Thanksgiving exhaustion!) then this is exactly what you need! Having it all cook on one baking sheet helps when you don’t feel like figuring out oven timing and bakeware for each dish and side and it helps reduce extra time cleaning up at the end of the night. It’s a semi-quick dinner recipe where it all comes together and hits the table in under an hour! FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:  Can I use store bought gravy instead of making homemade gravy? Certainly, you can. Just account for how long it may take you to make that when needed. You can use whatever gravy you prefer (jarred, packet, etc.) What’s the best size sheet pan to use? I used a 13×18-inch sheet pan with edges. The edges are helpful in making sure that none of the juices that come from the turkey fall off the pan and make a mess in your oven. You could also use (2) 9×13-inch pans using one for the turkey and one for the vegetables.  Can I use chicken breast instead of turkey? Yes, this can be done with chicken instead of turkey tenderloins. I’ve only tested this recipe with turkey tenderloins, but know that both turkey and chicken breasts are considered done when the internal temperature reaches 165F. So, if you swap for chicken, check on the internal temp first. Can I make this in a baking dish instead? If you use a casserole dish you won’t have enough room for everything. However, you could either half the recipe or use 2 casserole dishes. If you use two, put the vegetables in one casserole dish and the turkey in the other and cook as directed.  Can I use bone in turkey breasts? I don’t recommend trying this with bone in turkey breasts since the timing would be off since a bone-in takes longer to cook. If you can find boneless turkey breasts that’s what I would suggest. Again, I’ve only tested this with turkey tenderloins, so if you choose to change it up, I don’t have a cooking time recommendation, you’ll have to use your best judgement. My suggestion is to stick to the turkey tenderloins since the whole point of a sheet pan recipe is for it all to be cooked at the same time. What kind of turkey did you use? Check to see if your grocery store has turkey breast tenderloins. The most common brand is Butterball (not a paid link) and they usually come in a package of two. Some specialty brands may be available and they tend to be sold as one large one, that I would suggest cutting in half if needed. You’ll want about two pounds of turkey tenderloins total. How can I cut down on prep time? Usually during this time of year, a lot of grocery stores have started to sell already diced sweet potatoes as a way to help some people cut down on prep time, but just know that that is a more expensive option. Can I used dried herbs instead of fresh? Sure. Instead of 1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary, you can use about 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary. Instead of ½ teaspoon minced fresh thyme, you can use an 1/8th teaspoon of dried thyme. Just remember that dried herbs are more potent than fresh so start with a little and add more as necessary. I do think you’ll really love what the fresh herbs bring to this though. What if I don’t have any parchment paper? If you’re out of parchment paper, don’t sweat it! You can lightly spray your pan with cooking spray or lightly grease your pan with butter. Both options will decrease your risk of having your meal stick to the pan.  Can I make this ahead of time and freeze it? Making this one pan turkey dinner ahead of time and freezing it can really help you to save time on the day you plan to serve or ensure that you have leftovers when you want them even months down the road. Simply prepare everything as directed and allow it to cool on the counter until completely cool but no longer than 2 hours. After 2 hours, bacteria that causes foodborne illness can start to grow. Move your turkey dinner to plastic resealable bags or an airtight container and place in the freezer for up to 3 months. Reheat covered in the oven until warmed through. How to store leftovers? All your leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator. Wrap your leftovers with plastic wrap, seal in a resealable bag or place into an airtight container. Your leftovers will stay fresh and your turkey will retain its moisture for 3-4 days. After that, you’ll want to move your leftovers to the freezer if you wish to keep them longer.  What’s the best way to reheat leftovers? Reheat individual servings 2-3 minutes in the microwave. You can also preheat an oven to 350°F and place your leftovers on a sheet pan and cook for 10-15 minutes. Always test to see if your turkey has reached 165°F before consuming.  INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE) sweet potatoes – I give some more tips above. This recipe was only tested with fresh sweet potatoes. I know some stores sell frozen but those may not cook evenly with everything else on this dish so I honestly cannot give you a recommendation on using frozen. salted butter – You can use unsalted butter and just add a pinch of salt. dark brown sugar – Light brown sugar would work here too. I love the deeper molasses flavor of the dark brown but light works great too. cinnamon and nutmeg – Cinnamon and nutmeg can be replaced by apple pie spice. mini marshmallows – Marshmallow fluff is also a good substitute.  chopped pecans – if you don’t like nuts, just leave them off. green beans -again, I tested this only with fresh vegetables. I have not tested with canned or frozen. I really hate for anyone to waste ingredients because I said it was ok to do so. I created this recipe to specifically be times to all cook together and have it all be cooked and done at the same time. If you try it with canned or frozen, you will have to experiment on your own. Please let me know if you try it though! olive oil – Any neutral oil like avocado or vegetable would also work here. garlic powder – Fresh garlic could also be used. I’d probably use one or two minced garlic cloves (depending on how much of a garlic flavor you enjoy). shredded colby jack cheese – optional and can also be swapped out for a different option. Use your favorite cheese here. Cheddar, mozzarella or pepperjack are all great options. bacon – cooked and crumbled. If you have real bacon pieces on hand, you could use those. turkey tenderloins – about 1.5-2 pounds in total is what you want. I’ve only tested this recipe using turkey tenderloins. I haven’t tired it with a bone-in turkey and I wouldn’t recommend it as it would take longer than anything else on the sheet pan to cook and that would defeat the purpose of this sheet pan meal. However, you could theoretically swap the turkey for boneless chicken breasts and cook for a similar time as long as the internal temperature of the chicken reached 165F to be cooked properly. Use your meat thermometer to ensure the meat is safe to eat before serving. If making any swaps or substitutions, cooking times may vary from what I suggested. poultry seasoning – Italian seasoning would also be yummy. fresh rosemary and fresh thyme – see my Frequently Asked Questions above for using dried herbs. onion powder garlic – you can use garlic powder as well. This is for the green beans. You could use about half a teaspoon to a teaspoon (depending on how much garlic you enjoy.) cornstarch – this is just used to thicken the gravy. You could use flour too. turkey broth – could be swapped out for chicken broth or vegetable broth. HOW TO MAKE SHEET PAN TURKEY DINNER Preheat. Preheat  oven to 425°F and line a largesheet pan with parchment paper. Prepare the sweet potatoes. In a medium bowl, mix sweet potatoes, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg and set aside. Prepare the green beans. In another bowl, coat the green beans with oil, salt and garlic powder and set aside. Season the turkey. In a small bowl mix poultry seasoning, salt, thyme, rosemary, and black pepper. Rub all sides of the turkey with olive oil and then season the turkey with the seasoning mix before placing in the center of the sheet pan. Arrange on the pan, the sweet potato mixture and green bean mixture above and below the turkey tenderloins. Bake uncovered for 25 minutes. Top the sweet potatoes with marshmallows and pecans and the green beans with cheese and bacon. Bake again for 6 minutes or until the cheese and marshmallows are melted.  Check the temperature. Make sure the turkey reaches an internal temperature 165°F before removing it from the oven. If it hasn’t reached temperature, take the green beans and potatoes off the pan and continue baking the turkey. Make the gravy. While the turkey and vegetables cook, use a medium saucepan to heat the butter. Add the poultry seasoning, onion powder, and garlic. In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch and broth and add to the pan. Whisk until thick (2-3 minutes).  Garnish. Garnish the turkey with parsley pour on gravy.  Serve. Serve dinner and enjoy! CRAVING MORE RECIPES?  Crock Pot Turkey Breast Crock Pot Mississippi Turkey Breast Ham Steak Sheet Pan Meal Kielbasa Sheet Pan Meal BBQ Chicken Sheet Pan Meal Sheet Pan Creamy Garlic Chicken Sheet Pan Pork Chop Dinner Sheet Pan Garlic Parmesan Chicken For Two Sheet Pan Garlic Butter Chicken Meal Sheet Pan Beef Quesadillas Sheet Pan Greek Chicken Meal Print Sheet Pan Turkey Dinner Easy dinner all on one pan featuring turkey tenderloins, green beans and a sweet potato side dish. Course Dinner, Main CourseCuisine American Prep Time 15 minutes minutesCook Time 31 minutes minutesTotal Time 46 minutes minutes Servings 4 Calories 791kcal Author Brandie @ The Country Cook IngredientsSweet potatoes:1 pound sweet potatoes, cubed¼ cup (1/2 stick) salted butter, melted¼ cup dark brown sugar (can use light brown)½ Tablespoon cinnamon1 teaspoon salt¼ teaspoon nutmeg1 cup mini marshmallows2 Tablespoons chopped pecansGreen beans:½ pound green beans, ends trimmed½ Tablespoon olive oil1 teaspoon salt1 teaspoon garlic powder½ cup shredded colby jack cheese (optional)5 strips bacon, cooked and crumbledTurkey:2 turkey tenderloins (about 1.5-2 pounds)½ Tablespoon olive oil1 Tablespoon poultry seasoning1 teaspoon salt1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary½ teaspoon minced fresh thyme½ teaspoon black pepperGravy:3 Tablespoons salted butter1 teaspoon poultry seasoning1 teaspoon onion powder¼ teaspoon garlic minced1 Tablespoon cornstarch1 cup turkey broth (or chicken broth)For garnish (optional)chopped parsley InstructionsPreheat the oven to 425°F and line a large sheet pan with parchment paper.In a medium bowl, mix 1 pound sweet potatoes, cubed, ¼ cup (1/2 stick) salted butter, melted, ¼ cup dark brown sugar, ½ Tablespoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon nutmeg and set aside. In another bowl, coat ½ pound green beans, ends trimmed with ½ Tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon garlic powder and set aside. In a small bowl mix 1 Tablespoon poultry seasoning, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary, ½ teaspoon minced fresh thyme and ½ teaspoon black pepper. Rub all sides of 2 turkey tenderloins the with ½ Tablespoon olive oil and then season the turkey with the seasoning mix before placing in the center of the sheet pan. Arrange on the pan, the sweet potato mixture and green bean mixture above and below the turkey tenderloins. Bake uncovered for 25 minutes. Top the sweet potatoes with 1 cup mini marshmallows and 2 Tablespoons chopped pecans and the green beans with ½ cup shredded colby jack cheese and 5 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled. Bake again for 6 minutes or until the cheese and marshmallows are melted.Check the temperature. Make sure the turkey reaches an internal temperature 165°F before removing it from the oven. If it hasn't reached temperature, take the green beans and potatoes off the pan and continue baking the turkey.While the turkey and vegetables cook, use a medium saucepan to heat 3 Tablespoons salted butter. Add 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning, 1 teaspoon onion powder and ¼ teaspoon garlic. In a small bowl, mix1 Tablespoon cornstarch and 1 cup turkey broth and add to the pan. Whisk until thick (2-3 minutes). When everything is ready, garnish the turkey with chopped parsley (optional) and serve with gravy. Notes Please refer to my FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) and ingredient list above for other substitutions or for the answers to the most common questions. I purchased a two pack of Turkey Tenderloins (not a paid link) at Walmart. NutritionCalories: 791kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 45g | Sodium: 3028mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 29g

New research suggests holographic dark energy could stop the universe's expansion.