President-elect Donald Trump released a statement on Friday morning standing by his Secretary of Defense pick, Pete Hegseth, as legacy media reports critical of Hegseth’s credentials and past behavior have ramped up. Hegseth has been meeting with senators on Capitol Hill and talking to reporters as an NBC News article circulated citing anonymous sources accusing the veteran of excessive consumption of alcohol and worrying his Fox News colleagues. Following the NBC News report, however, multiple colleagues of Hegseth spoke up and defended him. As questions mounted about Hegseth’s chance to be cleared by the Senate, Trump said he is standing by his nominee, adding that despite “Fake News” reports, Hegseth maintains strong support. “Pete Hegseth is doing very well. His support is strong and deep, much more so than the Fake News would have you believe,” Trump wrote. “He was a great student – Princeton/Harvard educated – with a Military state of mind. He will be a fantastic, high energy, Secretary of Defense Defense, one who leads with charisma and skill. Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!” Vice President-elect JD Vance added, “Led by President Trump, we’re fighting for Pete Hegseth. And we’re doing so because Pete Hegseth will fight for our troops. For too long, the Pentagon has been led by people who lose wars. Pete Hegseth is a man who fought in those wars. We’ve got his back.” Trump is doubling down on his support for Hegseth as legacy media reports cite unnamed Republican senators reportedly concerned about Hegseth’s nomination being shot down by the Senate. An unidentified senator spoke to The Hill in a report published on Thursday, saying, “I think most people do not expect Hegseth to make it. There’s seven or eight [Republican] votes against him. It’s a matter of time.” Other reports and unnamed GOP senators have floated Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis as a replacement for Hegseth as Secretary of Defense. On Wednesday, Hegseth sat down with Megyn Kelly for his first interview since being tapped by Trump and responded to some of the claims made against him. He told Kelly that the NBC News story is a “smear” campaign against “someone who supports Donald Trump’s agenda.” “They never asked those people,” Hegseth told Kelly. “And that’s what a smear looks like. It’s a couple anonymous nuggets, usually from disgruntled people who are fired for cause, who are jealous or want a little bit of retribution. And so they peddle stuff to reporters who are not interested in the truth, they’re interested in smearing someone who supports Donald Trump’s agenda. It’s really clear.” CHECK OUT THE DAILY WIRE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE Hegseth added, “My meetings with (senators) have been fantastic. No one has looked me in the eye and said, ‘I have concerns and I can’t vote for you.’ In fact, most have said, let’s take a picture, and I’m behind you all the way. And that’s a reflection of Donald Trump and the strength of his election, but also the mandate to change something at the Defense Department. We’re not backing down one bit.” The legacy media has also focused on a sexual assault allegation against Hegseth made by an unnamed woman in 2017. Authorities investigated the allegation and no charges were filed against Hegseth. “It’s very simple,” Hegseth said of the sex assault allegation. “The matter was fully investigated, and I was completely cleared, and that’s where I’m gonna leave it.”

A post shared on X claims former President George HW Bush pardoned his son, Neil Bush, white former President Jimmy Carter pardoned his brother. Jimmy Carter pardoned his brother Billy Carter who took over $200,000 from Libya as its foreign agent. George H.W. Bush pardoned his son Neil Bush for his role in the S&L scandals of the […]

A video shared on Facebook purports to show 2024 Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris with dark bags under her eyes while addressing supporters after the election. Verdict: False The claim is false, as the video has been digitally altered. In the original video, which has been shared on X and YouTube, Harris does not […]

'Noem has a proven record of supporting the men and women of law enforcement'

NYT CONFIRMS: BIDEN WORLD PLOTTING BLANKET PARDONS FOR CRONIES... NYT: Biden Team Considers Blanket Pardons Before Trump’s Promised ‘Retribution’ Among those whose names have been floated are former Representative Liz Cheney, Republican of Wyoming, who was vice chair of the bipartisan committee that investigated Mr. Trump’s role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol; Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the former top infectious disease expert for the government whose advice on Covid-19 made him a target of far-right attacks; Jack Smith, the outgoing special counsel who prosecuted Mr. Trump; and Senator-elect Adam B. Schiff, Democrat of California, who was a lead House prosecutor at Mr. Trump’s first impeachment trial.

A woman from Trinidad and Tobago has created a startup that’s turning heaps of smelly seaweed and other waste from the island’s rum distilleries into a new, low-emission fuel for cars. Along with members of her team, she is working on creating the first product under the brand name Rum and Sargassum—a mixture that produces […] The post Visionary Fuels First Car Powered By Seaweed Piling Up on Beaches That Reduces Tourism appeared first on Good News Network.

The post How to Do A Health Check At Home: Dr. Karyn’s Detailed Guide by Dr. Karyn Kanowski BVSc MRCVS (Veterinarian) appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com. Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and meet my five hilarious cats: Clutch, Cyril, Alex, Zelda, and Zazzles. Just the other day I was working on an article for our canine counterpart, Dogster, called “How Do I Know If My Dog Is Healthy?” and it made me think about how I perform a basic health check on a cat. I had a flashback to the Covid lockdowns, and how we often relied on owners to examine their cats at home to help us decide if they needed to be brought into the vet clinic. In veterinary practice, these basic checks are something we do dozens of times a day, hundreds of times a week. But I started to think about how overwhelming it may be for someone who has never done one. So, with the help of my somewhat willing volunteers, I am going to show you how to perform a basic physical examination of your cat at home using a checklist. This can be a useful tool for remote vet checks, but it’s also a great way to monitor health conditions and get a clearer idea of response to treatment. Of course, a home health check is NOT a substitute for a complete veterinary examination, and there are limits to what we can measure outside the vet clinic. But feeling more confident about how to check your cat’s health at home can allow you to pick up potential problems sooner, which is particularly useful when dealing with a species that is notorious for hiding signs of illness and pain. The Ten-Minute Health Check Click here to download and print our health checklist! You can use this checklist to help guide you through this basic examination and record what you find. It’s a good idea to fill out the checklist at, or just after, a check up at the vet. That way you will have an accurate weight measurement, and you can find out what your pet’s ideal weight is. The only equipment you’re going to need is a watch/clock and a rectal thermometer, which you can purchase specifically or commandeer from your first aid supplies – just be sure to label it clearly and keep it separate from any human equipment! TPR Temperature, pulse, and respiration: the hallmark of examination, patient monitoring, and triage. Heart Rate We’re not using a stethoscope, and this does not replace a cardiac auscultation. We are simply measuring the heart rate. You can either take a reading over a full 60 seconds or for 15 seconds and multiply it by four. There are a few places that you can use to check your cat’s heart rate: Carotid artery – located in the jugular groove, either side of the trachea (windpipe) on the neck. Chest wall (left side) – on lean cats, you should be able to feel (or even see) your cat’s heart beating under their ribs around where their elbow is when they are standing. Femoral artery – this can be felt when your cat is standing up or lying down. Place your fingers in the groove between the thigh muscles just below your cat’s groin. Respiratory Rate This will fluctuate a lot when your cat is awake, so wait for them to be asleep to take this reading. Fortunately, that is very easy when it comes to cats! Temperature Clutch is now regretting volunteering Most cats will strongly object to having their temperature taken, and it’s not something you should risk harming them or yourself over. If you can’t get a thermometer in for a rectal temperature, have a feel of their ears, nose, and paw pads. Although this won’t give you an accurate temperature measurement, it can give you an idea of whether they feel warm or cold, in relation to the ambient temperature. For example, warm ears on a cold day may indicate a fever. Always take the temperature last, as pulse and respiratory rate are likely to go up once that thermometer gets near their bottom, and be sure to use a personal lubricant or Vaseline on the thermometer! Gums Healthy gums should be salmon pink and feel moist to the touch. Many cats have dark brown or black pigment on their gums, making this a little harder to assess, but you should be able to find an area without pigmentation to use. CRT Capillary refill time (CRT) can give us an indication of blood pressure, anemia, or blood loss. Find a pink area of the gum and carefully push your finger against the gum so that it blanches white. Measure how long it takes for the color to return. Normal CRT is around 1-2 seconds. Ocular Exam We’re not going to get too complicated with this one. These checks will just give us an idea if there is any pain or vision loss. Eyes Are they of equal size and appearance? Is there any redness or discoloration? Pupils Are they the same size? Do they constrict (get smaller) in the light and dilate (get larger) in the dark? Dazzle If you flash a torch/bright light into the eyes, do they close their eyes? Menace Hold one hand over one eye, and with the other hand, quickly approach the open eye as if you are going to hit it, but stop about 8 inches from the face – does the eye close? Repeat on the other side. Comfort Do they mind if you push gently on the eye over the eyelid? Gastrointestinal System Some basic questions to answer are: Has your cat’s appetite been normal? Increased? Decreased? Has there been any vomiting or diarrhea? Is their abdomen comfortable and soft if you push on it, or does it seem tense, painful, or bloated? Skin Skin problems can be quite involved, and if your cat has any obvious or significant skin issues, they will need a separate examination with your vet. In this situation, we’re just looking for any early or subtle signs of a problem (or lack of one!). Don’t forget to check the ears and feet. You want to look for redness, greasy coat or skin, scabs, crusts, or bald patches. This is also a good time to feel over their body for any lumps or swellings. Use the diagram on the checklist to make notes of any lumps you find. Musculoskeletal Exam Flexing the shoulder Cats are great at just getting on with their day, and this often results in owners getting the impression that they aren’t in any pain. The fact is that if your cat has any lameness or changes in how they walk (gait), it is a sign of pain or a neurological issue, so being able to check this at home can fast-track your cat to the treatment they need. Be aware that cats aren’t always the most cooperative to this sort of examination, but do what you can! Here are some things to look out for: Gait Is there any sign of lameness or unusual limb movements? Are they scraping the claws on any feet? Neck Carefully move your cat’s head to point up, down, left, and right, making note of any stiffness or pain. Spine Slowly run the palm of your hand over your cat’s back, using medium/firm pressure. Look for any flinching or turning of their head, and make notes on the diagram of any areas that seem to trigger a reaction. Tail Check for changes in position, pain, or swellings, and be sure to check upper and lower sides. Gotta check the toe beans! Limbs Systematically work your way up from the toes to the shoulder and hip, gently squeezing along the limb, and flexing/extending each joint, watching your cat’s face as you do it. Most cats will growl if the pain is bad enough, but others may just turn their heads, tense their body, or hold their breath when you find an area of discomfort. Make note of any suspect areas on the diagram. You might want to use a scale of 1-3 to rate reactions from mild to severe. Conscious Proprioception (CP) This is a quick way to get an idea of any neurological deficits/spinal issues affecting the hind legs. When you position the hind foot with the upper side of the toes facing the ground, the foot should reposition itself immediately. This is a postural reflex action. If there is a delay in the messages between the foot and the spine or the brain, this reflex can be delayed or absent. If there is a delay, try to measure how long it takes for the foot to return to its normal position. And That’s It! In less time than it would take to enjoy a cup of coffee, you’ve performed a basic health check on your cat. Perhaps it’s flagged up a problem you weren’t aware of, shown you how they are responding to some medication, or given you peace of mind that your pet is fighting fit. Please remember this is just one part of monitoring your cat’s health, and is not a replacement for a check-up with your vet, but it may help to pinpoint a problem and help your vet decide what next steps are needed. Happy health checking! Don’t forget: Click here to download and print our health checklist! This article is a part of Dr. Karyn's series with her five hilarious cats. Read her previous article: Alex Likes a Fresh Bowl: Litter Box Cleaning with 5 Cats The post How to Do A Health Check At Home: Dr. Karyn’s Detailed Guide by Dr. Karyn Kanowski BVSc MRCVS (Veterinarian) appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

Fast Times at Ridgemont High is a teen coming-of-age comedy directed by Amy Heckerling, written by Cameron Crowe, and released in 1982. The film follows a series of storylines of various characters attending Ridgemont High as they try to navigate through life and their wild experiences as teenagers. The film established many young actors as budding stars, although it was considered to be... Source

Queen Elizabeth II's undeniable grace and impeccable fashion sense made her the epitome of class. Even when she was still a princess, the would-be queen knew how to dress. From her colorful dress suits to her sparkly gowns, these outfits show how the queen's style has evolved over the years. Queen Elizabeth II turned 20 in 1946, which was the year that this photo was taken. The young lady was... Source

Some union leaders are self-destructive idiots. America’s ports have fallen behind. Not a single one ranks in the top 50 worldwide. A big reason is that dock unions stop innovation. This fall, the International Longshoremen’s Association shut down East and Gulf Coast ports, striking for a raise and a ban on automation. They got the raise. Now, union president Harold Daggett says longshoremen will strike again in January if they don’t get that ban on automation. His statement in my new video makes it clear that he knows how badly his strike would damage other Americans. “Guys who sell cars can’t sell cars, because the cars ain’t coming in off the ships. They get laid off,” says Daggett. “Construction workers get laid off because materials aren’t coming in. The steel’s not coming in. The lumber’s not coming in. They lose their job.” Obviously, labor leaders aren’t necessarily “pro-worker,” says Mercatus Center economist Liya Palagashvili. “They’re saying, ‘We don’t care if these other jobs are destroyed as long as we get what we want.’” Daggett is unusually clueless. He doesn’t understand that a ban on automation will also hurt his members. As Palagashvili puts it, “They’ll save some jobs today, but they’ll destroy a lot more jobs in the future.” That’s because today’s shippers have options. Daggett’s union only controls East and Gulf Coast ports. Shippers can deliver their products to ports that accept automation. “We’re going to see less activity in ‘Stone Age’ ports,” says Palagashvili. “Stone Age?” “They want to ban automated opening and closing of port doors,” she points out, requiring workers to pull heavy doors themselves. Weirdly, the union boss makes his demands while also pointing out that dockworker jobs are dangerous. “Very dangerous. … We’ve had 17 people killed in the last three years!” That’s terrible, but it’s an argument for automation! Using machines instead of vulnerable humans protects human workers. Daggett’s arguing against himself! I see why he wouldn’t agree to an interview. “It’s backward,” notes Palagashvili. “[If] you care about the safety of these workers, you should enhance their jobs and make them safer and better. And the only way you can do that is with technological advancements in automation.” Other countries have used automated cranes for years. They’re 80% faster than the human-operated cranes in many American ports. “The best ports,” says Palagashvili, “are Asian and Middle Eastern ports. They allow for innovation and technological advancements. If you look at Chinese ports, they’re actually sitting behind a computer and directing port activity through the screen. That’s a better job.” “I bet there are fewer of them,” I push back. “Some port jobs will definitely be lost,” she says, “but that’s not a bad thing. Look at it historically: We had hundreds of thousands of blacksmiths and candlemakers and watchmakers.” Obviously, those and other jobs were destroyed by new technology. But unemployment didn’t surge. New jobs emerged—jobs people at the time didn’t imagine: programmers, mechanics, electricians, medical technicians … That’s capitalism’s “creative destruction.” It constantly creates new jobs. That makes most everyone richer. The media rarely cover that because it’s a slow, non-exciting, good news story, and the new jobs appear in many different places. By contrast, when a factory closes, the union assembles the media, and we report the tragic story about workers losing their jobs. “That reporter doesn’t follow up with the worker two years later,” says Palagashvili, “but research does, and research shows that that worker gets a new job.” “On average, [a] better job,” I note. “Better jobs,” agrees Palagashvili, “and higher wages.” Higher wages because innovation allows workers to accomplish more. “Bulldozers and crane trucks made construction industry workers better off,” says Palagashvili, “and the real wages of those construction workers increase.” Daggett and his union just don’t get it. They fight to keep American ports dangerous and inefficient. That will hurt their own workers and, eventually, themselves.COPYRIGHT 2024 BY JFS PRODUCTIONS INC. The post This Union Head Is Willing to Save a Few Jobs Today to Destroy Many More in the Future appeared first on The Daily Signal.