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'This is just people who care about fairness in women's sports'

'CHNV parolees may be eligible to apply for humanitarian relief'

Two tiny kittens saved from the storm now follow everyone around, thinking they are part dog. Ernie and HadleyAllisonA tuxedo and a tabby ended up at the Humane Society in Tampa, desperately needing a foster home. Weighing around 12 ounces, they were starved of both food and love.Allison, a foster volunteer, offered to help and gave the pair a cozy place to settle in. They were believed to have been "found as orphans and brought in by Good Samaritans as a result of the storm (Helene).""The first day, they were really struggling from feeling so hungry. Since then, they have been very brave and friendly," Allison shared with Love Meow. They were found outside as orphans. Hadley is a bit older than ErnieAllisonThe tuxedo, Hadley, clung to her human once she felt safe. After getting a full belly, she demanded to be held and leaned into her foster mom, purring and kneading away with her tiny mittens.Allison provided the kittens with round-the-clock care to make sure they were back on track with their growth. "I may not be sleeping a lot, but this face makes it all worth it." AllisonHadley began venturing outside the confines of her playpen and encouraged her little brother, Earnest (or Ernie), to join her.As soon as the kittens heard the paw-steps of the resident dogs, their eyes lit up with excitement. Eager to meet them, they made a beeline for the canines, purring nonstop as they nuzzled into their fur. AllisonErnie, a polydactyl, sniffed around the giant paws before nestling on the belly of his canine friend.The gentle dogs don't mind the kittens nursing on them despite not having any milk to offer. They happily watch over them, letting them pounce on their tails and wrestle with their floppy ears. Hadley thinks she's part of the packAllisonHadley enjoys lounging beside the dogs just like she's part of the pack. Despite being the size of their paws, she follows them around, trying to match what they do.The fearless tuxedo acts as if she were part canine, seeing herself as an equal to the dogs in the house. "Hadley is super floppy and loves attention. She's a goofball." AllisonAs she readies herself for a snooze, she snuggles up to a canine friend, tucking herself close.While Ernie sticks close to his foster mom, Hadley goes on many excursions around the house or hangs out with her canine crew. The mere clink of a food bowl sends both scrambling like miniature lightning bolts. Allison"They love to follow me around and immediately wake up and meow when they hear me talk (probably because I'm feeding them). Both of their personalities are starting to shine through now that their bellies are consistently filled."Hadley, the more outgoing of the two, nudges her brother to climb the towering heights of the cat tree. She shares her favorite scratching post with him and brings him to her canine friends. AllisonNo more wandering outside alone - the kittens are thriving in their foster home. They have each other and a big family to ensure their future will be bright and filled with love.Ernie followed Hadley to Olive, the dog, clambering over her to seek comfort. Nestled in cozily, they drifted to sleep, secure in her protective embrace. AllisonJust days ago, the kittens were outside alone, at risk of being swept away by the storm. Now, they are flourishing in foster care, with kind humans to spoil them and gentle dogs to play and snuggle with. AllisonShare this story with your friends. More on Ernie, Hadley, and Allison's fosters on Instagram.Related story: Cat Curls Up Between a Couple After 848 Days Wishing for a Home from the Time He was Just a Kitten

Angry About the Hate that Never Happened

MMA? That’s for wimps. Sure, it looks intense — muscles, blood, sweat, the occasional tooth (and fighter) flying into the audience. But, I suggest, we can do better.We must!You see, real warriors are not satisfied with just bare fists or submission holds. They need steel. They need armor. They need to bring back the clank of medieval combat.Beneath the spectacle and flashy armor lies a profound acknowledgment of our innate desire for carnage.Welcome to the world of armored combat, where men (and the odd woman with a lust for blood) don 50 pounds of full plate and bash each other with swords, axes, and maces — not for honor, not for their king, but for something even more noble: a juicy paycheck in Nashville. The competitions are, much like MMA, structured into rounds or bouts, where fighters aim to score points through effective strikes and defenses. Although the costumes may appear far-fetched and even comical, the fighting itself is anything but a laughing matter. The matches are intense, with a real risk of serious injury. The next event is scheduled for November 16 at the city’s Municipal Auditorium, and tickets are available now. Nashvillearmoredcombat.comGetting medieval But Nashville, better known for its warm hospitality than for its medieval combat, is far from the only place where this revival of historical fighting is gaining momentum. Armored Combat Worldwide is a sports organization that arranges competitive events for medieval armored combat teams, called “chapters.” As you can probably tell from the name, the organization is dedicated to supporting armored combat on a global scale. It oversees competitions worldwide, including in the U.S. Each year, the ACW organizes tournaments at both conference and national levels. The performance evaluations from these events are then used by its leaders to select fighters and teams for international competitions, tours, and global showcases.In short, it’s very serious business. There is a method to the madness.To be clear, the ACW isn't just about historical reenactments. It's an actual sport where competitors engage in full-contact fights using real medieval weapons like swords, axes, and maces. They wear full suits of armor, each as heavy as the fighters in Nashville. They compete in different formats, from one-on-one duels to team battles, in arenas designed to resemble historical battlefields. Though you would be forgiven for thinking otherwise, safety is a top priority. Fighters must go through intense training to master their combat skills and handle their heavy armor. The ACW is regulated by the International Medieval Combat Federation. The IMCF’s primary goal is to preserve the historical accuracy of medieval combat techniques while ensuring they are accessible and safe for contemporary audiences and competitors.Appetite for (controlled) destructionWhen I joked about MMA being for wimps, it was meant in good humor. As a fan of UFC since my spotty-faced teenage years in the late 2000s, I have nothing but admiration for the skill, bravery, and sheer intensity of its fighters. Mixed Martial Arts demands extraordinary talent, tenacity, and, at times, almost deluded levels of belief. Many of its athletes, from the great Anderson Silva to the equally great Alex Pereira, are absolute beasts worthy of absolute respect.Obviously, armored combat isn't meant to challenge or replace UFC. Many readers, I’m sure, never knew it existed, and even now that they do, they mightn’t even care that it does. As for the UFC, anyone with a functioning brain has probably heard of it and its outspoken leader, Dana White. Primal instinctsInstead, armored combat offers a completely different but somewhat complementary experience. It’s cosplay on cocaine. Beneath the spectacle and flashy armor lies a profound acknowledgment of our innate desire for carnage. Sigmund Freud, the psychoanalyst famously rumored to have done enough cocaine to kill a small horse, referred to the constructive channeling of this urge as sublimation. In essence, this psychological mechanism involves transforming primal instincts into socially productive activities. Rather than succumbing to potentially destructive impulses, like the abuse of drugs and alcohol, people direct their energy into pursuits that benefit themselves and/or society. For example, someone with aggressive tendencies might engage in competitive sports to channel their antagonistic proclivities in a socially acceptable manner. They might, for instance, head to Nashville, don armor, and engage in physical combat with another human being or many other human beings. Armored combatants compete in carefully controlled environments where their skills are celebrated. Moreover, these fighters must display discipline and a high degree of mastery. Beyond the battles, the sport fosters a strong sense of community. In an era of increasing loneliness, this sense of belonging is something to be valued rather than ridiculed. So what if they look silly? They are having fun with like-minded individuals out there in the "real" world, building memories that will hopefully last for life, barring any serious concussions.It's clear that many of these participants, most of whom are men, are driven by deep, primal instincts. The need for conflict is undeniable. At least they are channeling these raw impulses in a relatively healthy manner, even if it results in the occasional broken rib or bloodied nose. Freud, I’m sure, would agree.

“This Old House,” an American institution, has been going strong for 45 years. The series' third host, former commercial banker Kevin O’Connor, is passionate about highlighting the work of professionals in the trades. That shared goal brought him and Mike Rowe together last year for an episode of Rowe’s podcast, “The Way I Heard It,” last year. Rowe and O’Connor traded stories about hosting and the experiences their "B-level" stardom has afforded them, including appearances on another PBS staple, "Sesame Street." They also discussed their respective charitable foundations: Generation Next, which helps form apprentices and gives them small roles on "This Old House," and Mike Rowe Works. We need to end the DEI-driven bias against boys and young men that permeates every level of public education. O’Connor recounted a deep history of “This Old House.” It is a must-listen for any fan of the show, especially his recollection of a 1979 helicopter shot involving Bob Villa. 342: Apple Juice and Saltines with Kevin O'Connor 342: Apple Juice and Saltines with Kevin O'Connor open.spotify.com The most profound part of the interview came when the conversation shifted to the lack of shop classes in 21st-century high schools, leading to a discussion about how the modern education system is failing young men. O’Connor believes the lack of male role models plays a significant role in why boys and young men are being left behind. “If you look at the evolution of schooling in America, there used to be a lot of male teachers,” he said. “I think in the ’70s, half or more than half of high school teachers were men. Today, 75% of teachers are women.” He went on to explain why this is a concern: “That’s not necessarily a bad thing in itself, but if young men are looking for role models, it’s different when they get guidance from an older man who’s successful and can talk about things that are more masculine.” At this point in the conversation, Rowe jumped in and asked O’Connor, “As someone with a show on PBS, and you’re still allowed to say all of this? That’s awesome.” O’Connor joked, “No one listens to your podcast though, Mike, right? This isn’t going anywhere, is it?” He then quickly and powerfully listed what he sees as the consequences of the current status quo. [Boys] have been put aside, downgraded. They have been damaged in terms of their reputation. And then if you look at the health of young men, I’d say it’s not great. You know, they struggle more than women. They graduate in lower numbers; they go on to college in lower numbers. They're the victims of depression and suicide and incarceration in higher numbers. And, to me, it's like there’s gotta be some sort of a connection between those things when we’ve said traditional masculine jobs, careers are secondary, they’re no good. And then we’re surprised when young men come out of high school or college lost and confused and then we suffer the ill effects of those things. And I think shop class is just one of those things. On these points, O’Connor is absolutely right. As a society, we are failing young men. Starting in elementary school, they are labeled as disruptive, toxic, and responsible for society’s problems, essentially made to feel worthless. Prevailing educational theories claim no difference exists between males and females, leaving young men of all races behind. O’Connor is also right about the suicide rate among young men. The rate for those aged 15-24 jumped by more than 50% from 2001 to 2021. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, "In 2022, men died by suicide 3.85 times more than women.” The labor force participation rate among prime working-age men (25-54) continues to decline rapidly. A Bipartisan Policy Center-Artemis survey conducted earlier this year found that 57% of men who have stopped looking for work cite physical and mental health issues as the reason. Studies also support O’Connor’s assertion that young men graduate high school at lower rates than young women. A Brookings Institution study of the 2017-2018 rates confirmed that this holds true in every state. What needs to be done to address this? First, we need to end the DEI-driven bias against boys and young men that permeates every level of public education. Second, we need to train teachers, who are predominantly female, on how to effectively engage with boys and young men. O’Connor emphasized this point with a story about his son’s experience at school. He shared how a female teacher sent every boy in his son’s class to the principal’s office because she couldn’t manage them. O’Connor later met up with the principal and said, “Listen, you got a boy problem. You know, when the solution by a teacher is just send all the boys away, then you've got somebody who doesn’t understand boys because they’re a pain in the butt, but they are who they are, and the solution can't be stick ’em in a corner or detain them or move them away.” The future of the nation relies on strong men. It’s far past time that we demand our public education system develops them.

Feel-Good Friday: Dad Treks 30 Miles in Hurricane Helene Destruction to Walk His Daughter Down the Aisle

DHS Chief Alejandro Mayorkas is being blasted for saying that FEMA has no money left to help Americans in need, even as he has spent billions to fly migrants into and around the country while feeding,…