Welcome back to our weekly behind-the-scenes glimpse at what’s getting our team talking. Let us know what you think at info@reasonstobecheerful.world. Circle of life California recently became the first US state to restrict the use of all blood-thinning rat poisons. These rodenticides don’t just affect rats, but also animals that prey on them, such as mountain lions and owls, notes the LA Times in a story that caught the attention of RTBC contributing editor and California resident Michaela Haas. Michaela says:   This is super important. Most people still don’t realize how harmful rat poison is. Right as rain In mid-September, Storm Boris brought record-breaking rains to Vienna. But the city, as the BBC reports in a story shared by Will Doing this week, was well-prepared. Will says:   After major flooding in decades past, Vienna started putting in flood mitigation infrastructure that’s now paying dividends in an era of heavier rainfall. These efforts were tested this month when a huge storm brought record rainfall to the city, which emerged largely unscathed. Lots of adaptable lessons in here that other cities could emulate. What else we’re reading Where Cargo Bikes Are Freeing Cities From Polluting Vans — shared by RTBC founder David Byrne from Bloomberg American Chestnut Trees Discovered in the Midcoast — shared by Editorial Director Rebecca Worby from the Midcoast Villager ‘It’s the first time I’ve woven in 27 years’: Peruvian women revive arts lost to trauma of forced sterilisations — shared by Michaela Haas from The Guardian In other news… We’re gearing up for our upcoming variety show, Amazing Humans Doing Amazing Things, which will take place next Tuesday in New York City in celebration of RTBC’s five-year anniversary. We’ll be sharing some peeks behind the curtain, so stay tuned. The post What We’re Reading: California’s Rat Poison Restrictions Are Good News for Mountain Lions appeared first on Reasons to be Cheerful.

According to a text message posted by X user ‘PNWGUERRILLA,’ members of the 82nd Airborne Division stationed in Fayetteville, North Carolina, received orders that they could not assist with Hurricane Helene relief efforts and must remain on standby in case they’re needed for support in the Middle East. DISCLAIMER: 100 Percent Fed Up has not verified these claims. “I’m in the 82nd stationed in Fayetteville, NC. We have guys in our unit with family in Western NC that are trying to get to their family, guys who are asking to put in passes to go help anyway they can… they’re all getting told no. Meanwhile we got briefed that we have to be on standby incase we need to support the Middle East. The people stuck need to know that we’re trying but our higher ups aren’t allowing it,” the text message read. “Fuck your family’s, Go die for israel”-US MILITARY pic.twitter.com/qBXpG9vYle — PNWGUERRILLA (@pnwguerrilla) October 1, 2024 “Prayers for the 82nd in North Carolina. This is madness,” Kevin Posobiec commented. Prayers for the 82nd in North Carolina. This is madness. pic.twitter.com/zM1KQYVfre — Kev Posobiec (@KevinPosobiec) October 1, 2024 “The 82nd should just take off from Bragg right now and go save the people of Asheville Trump will pardon them all Day One And give them a parade,” Jack Posobiec said. The 82nd should just take off from Bragg right now and go save the people of Asheville Trump will pardon them all Day One And give them a parade https://t.co/wwFo4n9au3 — Jack Poso (@JackPosobiec) October 1, 2024 “Within 48 hours of the earthquake that struck Haiti in 2011, the 82nd Airborne had arrived from Fort Bragg, NC to Port-au-Prince to render aid. It’s been 135 hours and the DOD still haven’t given dual status command for NC (they have for FL), still haven’t sent the aerial assets and high-water vehicles from Fort Bragg that FEMA requested, the 81st is off on a training exercise, and the men from various units trying to get home to help their families in the disaster zone are being denied leave. It is a complete shame and disgrace. Heads should roll,” Dr. Ben Braddock said. Within 48 hours of the earthquake that struck Haiti in 2011, the 82nd Airborne had arrived from Fort Bragg, NC to Port-au-Prince to render aid. It’s been 135 hours and the DOD still haven’t given dual status command for NC (they have for FL), still haven’t sent the aerial… — Dr. Ben Braddock (@GraduatedBen) October 1, 2024 Libs of TikTok said she spoke with a military insider about the efforts for Hurricane Helene. Per Libs of TikTok: The 82nd Airborne Division is known as America’s “Global” Response Force. They have the ability to have thousands of paratroopers anywhere in the world in 18 hours. They provide combat capability, but also helicopter airlift, stand up hospitals, and other support. They responded to Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. The 82nd responded overnight to fly thousands of Afghans out of the country during the withdrawal. Less than 1/3 of the entire division is on the “global” alert status. Meaning there are thousands of members potentially available to render aid with a simple command. So the question is why even a fraction of the 82nd can’t be used to support relief efforts in the same state in which they are stationed (North Carolina)? For whatever reason, they are unavailable for this effort. As of now, they haven’t been alerted for hurricane support. They can be on the ground and in the sky within hours, organizing airlifts, building hospitals, bringing aid. But they aren’t. Biden-Harris can activate them if they so wished. Just spoke to a US Military insider about the efforts for Hurricane Helene. Here's what I was told: The 82nd Airborne Division is known as America's "Global" Response Force. They have the ability to have thousands of paratroopers anywhere in the world in 18 hours. They provide… — Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) September 30, 2024 “Why hasn’t the national guard or even active military units been called in to conduct humanitarian operations? Christmas, the 82nd Airborne Division is right down the road from Asheville area. Oh, they’re probably prepping to go to Ukraine or deploy to the Middle East,” General Mike Flynn wrote. Why hasn’t the national guard or even active military units been called in to conduct humanitarian operations? Christmas, the 82nd Airborne Division is right down the road from Asheville area. Oh, they’re probably prepping to go to Ukraine or deploy to the Middle East.… https://t.co/ZaoCLfYtww — General Mike Flynn (@GenFlynn) September 30, 2024 “But somehow, even though more than half of them live OFF BASE in the communities of central NC, and many have family throughout the state, they’re supposed to just sit there because Cooper won’t ask/demand help and Biden thinks just signing some FEMA paperwork is all the ‘leadership’ needed? WRONG,” RedState investigative journalist Jennifer Van Laar said. “Some of them ARE NOT sitting there. I’ve learned that the Joint Chiefs of Staff have told JSOC and USASOC commanders that their units are to stay out of Western NC, they’re giving liberal leave and have cryptically told the soldiers that they won’t be checking to see what equipment is on base for the next few weeks. And so it is that some specially-trained guys in civilian clothes are up in the mountain communities using their search/rescue and EMT skills and military equipment to save lives DESPITE what the federal government bean counters have ordered. Thank God for these men,” she continued. … and, some of them ARE NOT sitting there. I've learned that the Joint Chiefs of Staff have told JSOC and USASOC commanders that their units are to stay out of Western NC, they're giving liberal leave and have cryptically told the soldiers that they won't be checking to see… — Jennifer Van Laar (@jenvanlaar) October 1, 2024 Drew Steele discussed the situation with Florida’s Voice: WATCH: Drew Steele is shocked by revelation from @LibsofTiktok on the 82nd Airborne Division "Why isn't the 82nd out there […] sending relief efforts in the same state that they're stationed in!" pic.twitter.com/3pgfNDXMAn — Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) October 1, 2024 Per FOX Weather: The death toll from Hurricane Helene continues to climb as rescue efforts persist across the Southeast. Hard-hit regions, including parts of western North Carolina, are receiving aid from various states as emergency crews work to reach isolated communities devastated by catastrophic flooding. Over 160 people are now confirmed dead in six states – Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee. Helene is now the second-deadliest hurricane to strike the mainland U.s. in the last 55 years, topped only by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the most since Hurricane Camille hit the Gulf Coast in August 1969. President Joe Biden announced he will travel to the region on Wednesday and is expected to visit Asheville, North Carolina, to get a firsthand look at the devastation. Biden is also expected to visit Florida and Georgia. At least 70 people are now confirmed dead in North Carolina, and hundreds of people remain unaccounted for due to the lack of power and communication access. Dozens of those deaths have come in Buncombe County, which is home to the city of Ashville. Communities in western North Carolina were hit especially hard, with catastrophic flooding destroying hundreds of roads and bridges. Scenes from small towns such as Chimney Rock, Swannanoa and Biltmore Village show entire sections of the region either destroyed or washed away. Stories of heartbreak and loss fill the close-knit communities as a barrage of devastating images come in, capturing the scale of the destruction caused by what some call “biblical” flooding. In related news, a pilot claimed he was threatened with arrest for rescuing flood victims in North Carolina. [WATCH] Pilot Said He Was Threatened With Arrest For Rescuing Flood Victims

Joan Armatrading's twenty-first studio album How Did This Happen And What Does It Now Mean will arrive later this year

Max Cavalera entered a six-month depression after quitting Sepultura in 1996, and he credits his wife and The Prince Of Darkness with lifting him back up

NETHERLANDS version: “Diversity is our strength”, Netherlands version. pic.twitter.com/GOud7ifZwK — RadioGenoa (@RadioGenoa) October 1, 2024 NORWAY version: “Diversity is our strength”, Norway version. pic.twitter.com/YZBGMRHe3o — RadioGenoa (@RadioGenoa) October 1, 2024 BELGIUM version: “You can’t pass, we have to pray to Allah!” Belgium is lost. pic.twitter.com/VXvywWSan6 — RadioGenoa (@RadioGenoa) September 30, 2024 PAKISTAN version: Mohammed from […]

There's a $10 million reward on his head. Or at least there was. The post How Long Until Israel’s Foreign Aid Consists of Rewards for Dead Terrorists? appeared first on Frontpage Mag.

There's a lot of red flags here. The post Why Walz’s Tiananmen Square Lie Matters appeared first on Frontpage Mag.