WASHINGTON —  The FBI agreed Monday to pay more than $22 million to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging female recruits were singled out for dismissal in training and routinely harassed by instructors…

Amazon.com Inc won partial dismissal of a U.S. Federal Trade Commission lawsuit accusing it of maintaining illegal monopolies, though the details of the ruling by a federal court in Seattle on Monday…

Known as "The Days of Awe," Judaism's High Holy Days — which begin on Wednesday — annually provide an emotional mix of celebration, introspection and atonement for Jews around the world. This year,…

Don't skip leg day.

A true catastrophe.

Politics The House Ethics Committee’s Fraud Is Exposed Recent revelations have shaken the committee’s case against Rep. Matt Gaetz. Credit: Getty Images Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) has been harassed for years on baseless accusations of sexual misconduct. Even the Justice Department (DOJ), which Gaetz eviscerates at any chance he gets for the politicized nature of its prosecutorial stances, cleared him of wrongdoing.  And yet the House Ethics Committee continues to probe him. They want to kick him out of Congress. This probe is in part led by Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH), who donated to Gaetz’s primary opponent just a few months ago.  Let’s be clear about what’s going on here—entrenched interests are conducting an investigation with the sole purpose of expelling a Congressman who stands up against endless wars, unconstitutional spying, and wasteful spending. Gaetz has shown the spine to fight for these ideals even if it means taking on his own party.  If you have any doubt about how sinister this all is, it has now been proven that the DOJ was behind the 2021 leak to the New York Times that launched this whole witch hunt. Gaetz revealed this information last week along with other details on the contrived basis for this probe.  In a final response to the Ethics Committee, Gaetz wrote in part that he is in possession of a recording of the Committee’s star witness, Joel Greenberg, “from prison wherein he claims the DOJ told him that the New York Times piece put him in ‘golden position.’” The DOJ used Greenberg, who is currently imprison after conviction on charges of underage sex trafficking and fraud, to try to take down Gaetz.  We know this with certainty because Greenberg told a fellow inmate that he planned to lie about Gaetz “having sexual contact with a minor to reduce his own prison sentence.” That other inmate sent a letter to Gaetz, and two former federal agents interviewed the inmate. As that inmate relayed, Greenberg said that his “victim would be willing to adopt Greenberg’s lie in hopes of a future financial benefit.” Gaetz has “provided written evidence that, according to plan, she later sought that benefit.” Greenberg went so far as to pay for his victim’s attorney. Gaetz has revealed a text message from Greenberg proving this. And another civil lawsuit contains evidence showing Greenberg saying the alleged victim would “do whatever he said because he was paying her legal bills.” It’s clear now why the Biden DOJ decided not to charge Gaetz even though they had every reason in the world to punish someone who has repeatedly exposed them in public hearings. Their chief witnesses have no credibility.  Gaetz’s letter to the Ethics Committee last week showed that this “investigation” has devolved into a deeply personal effort to try to embarrass Gaetz.  The committee provided Gaetz a list of adult women and asked whether he had sex with them. Gaetz replied to the committee’s leadership that “the lawful, consensual, sexual activities of adults are not the business of Congress…. [A]sking about my sexual history as a single man with adult women is a bridge too far. I will no longer voluntarily participate in this regrettable abuse of the Committee.” It’s unsurprising that the committee would abuse its powers like this. They are acting as the henchmen of the former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. McCarthy has been on a revenge tour since Gaetz engineered his ouster as House Speaker, and he has continued participating in what seem to be weekly interviews on CNN slandering Gaetz.  The establishment’s treatment of Gaetz has been both disgusting and reprehensible, and Gaetz’s bravery in the face of this assault has been commendable.  Keep in mind that the chairman of the Ethics Committee is Rep. Michael Guest (R-MI). Guest has violated stock trading laws, while Gaetz wants to ban congressional stock trading entirely. Gaetz even called out Guest during a speech earlier this year, stating, “For the same reason you don’t let the umpire bet on the game, members of Congress should not be allowed to trade individual stocks. How about the Ethics Committee take up those reforms?” Don’t hold your breath for an ethics probe into Guest, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), or any of the other congressmen who have gotten rich off their insider knowledge. The purpose of the Ethics Committee isn’t to enforce ethics, it is to use “ethics” as an excuse to punish those members who make leadership uncomfortable.  It is incumbent on all America First patriots to stand with Rep. Matt Gaetz against this high-tech lynching. The post The House Ethics Committee’s Fraud Is Exposed appeared first on The American Conservative.

Opus Dei Deep Dive, J.D. Vance Connection to Opus Dei, & Opus Dei's Connection to 2024 Election 9-39-2024 - I was WRONG about Opus Dei (and J.D. Vance is involved) Opus Dei Deep Dive - 7,480 views Sept. 29, 2024 TheDeepDiveProject *** The Opus Dei Deep Dive Project Full Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reHcPa3fJCI *** As time stretches on and my work digging into the world of Opus Dei continues, I have spent a significant amount of time considering my perception of Opus Dei. - Today, we’re going to talk about that, as well as some interesting discoveries I’ve made re: ***J.D. Vance and Opus Dei,*** and I will provide some preliminary thoughts on Gore’s new book, “Opus: The Cult of Dark Money, Human Trafficking, and Right-wing Conspiracy Inside the Catholic Church.” - CHAPTERS: 0:00 – Intro 4:27 – What is Opus Dei? 27:34 – J.D. Vance & Opus Dei 35:34 – “Opus” by Gareth Gore 44:25 - Outro - SOURCE DOCUMENT: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1W... - VIDEO TRANSCRIPT (English): https://docs.google.com/document/d/10... - FAIR USE FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES Mirrored From: https://www.youtube.com/@thedeepdiveprojectofficial

Recently a 31-year-old wondered if they were making a “stupid” decision for wanting to start college, and sought the opinions of strangers online. In a post made to Reddit, they shared how they had been working retail and dealing with self esteem issues since they were 19, and felt like maybe, just maybe going to school could help them reach their full potential and give them a “purpose.” However, they also shared that they currently lived with their parents, who warned them that college would be “wasting time and going into debt.” Hence the dilemma. So this person asked the community, point blank: “Is this a bad decision?” and got a flood of support from well wishers and fellow later bloomers reminding him of the power of embracing second chances. It was a pretty amazing display of humanity for being a plethora of Reddit comments. Many who had been in similar situations argued that the life experience gained will only help with this person’s studies.Am I a loser for starting college at 31 years old? byu/Silly-Reputation7993 inNoStupidQuestions“I’m in skool rn @ your age and it’s actually super easy, you’ll be surprised how things make much more sense with a bit of life experience under your belt. Good luck, you’ll have fun,” one person wrote. Another added, “Same. I am 34 and started a little over a year ago. I think I am in a much much better position for it now! I am mature, and I am a lot more focused than 18 year old me would have been. It isn’t “easy” at any age. But you’ll be surprised at how much easier it will be than you think it will be now.”“I graduated at 42. Feels great. Nice to have a lived life of variety and waited to really find my calling. There’s no ultimatum on improving yourself,” said another, Even those who hadn’t experienced this personally could share stories of loved ones who had–and succeeded. “My Dad got his university degree after he retired. He previously only had a Grade 8 education. I was proud of him and I’m proud of you OP,” one person wrote. Another said, “My anecdotal story. My second year in college, a 30-year old man (who was divorced, and had two kids) enrolled as a freshman. They put him as a roommate with someone in the suite I was in. He had been a coal miner for 12 years are was tired of being "covered up", which was his term for being in three cave-ins. He was actually a really cool guy and despite being clearly older, fit in well. And, very long story short, I heard he just retired as the second-in-command in the state's department of energy. So, using his degree, he had a good career in energy policy that spanned over 30 years. So, my answer is no, you are not a loser.”One person pointed out how starting from this clean slate, however late, might actually be easier than trying to pivot from a career that's already established. “So many people are stuck in jobs or on career paths that just don't really suit them (me included). I find it all very disappointing, and deeply dissatisfying, and changing paths is honestly very difficult once you're in the daily grind and have responsibilities,” they wrote. Still another reminded the OP that learning is an integral part of life, no matter what age you are. “I have always kept learning, and still learn new things and new ways. After I graduated, I continued off and on to pick up new ways. When you quit learning, you might as well crawl in your casket. I'm older and continue, I do not want to get put in a care home and told to watch some insipid show. No, always continue learning. Good for you.”And some simply came in to offer encouragement, like this person, who wrote, “I just want to chime in that you are absolutely crushing it in life. Throw everything you can into this. Truly rooting for you. I hope I read your ‘I did it’ story in five or so years.”Tips for Going to College after 30 There can be many reasons for people 25, 30, 40, and beyond to pursue higher education—be it to boost employment prospects or just to continue being lifelong learners. Sure, it might be daunting, but the most worthwhile things usually are. Here are a few things that can help make that process a smoother one. Make a solid plan This is just about researching different schools and programs. Hone in on WHY you want a degree, what kinds of opportunities you hope will come from it, how much time you can commit, will you be going in-person or online, etc. A clearly defined, realistic plan that includes specific timelines, milestones, and even little rewards helps keep you on track and motivated. And remember you don’t have to do this portion alone. There are often career guides that can help. Speaking of which… Take Advantage of Student Support Services & ResourcesMost colleges offer resources like financial aid advisors, academic advisors, tutoring, technical support, on-campus childcare centers, and writing and career centers that can be very helpful. It’s also worth noting that many programs that accept transfer credits or work credits, so that you can leverage on your previous life experience. Stay organized Odds are, you will be multitasking schoolwork along with various other adulting tasks. That’s why things like calendars, to-do apps, or even accountability groups are imperative. Plus, you’ll want to find which note taking system works best for you, because it’s definitely not a one-size-fits all approach.. Also, never underestimate the power of designated study space. Manage stress Nobody wants to burn out. It might seem impossible to eat well, exercise, get a good night’s sleep and find time to relax when you have so many demands, but even the smallest amounts of consistent self care will give you more energy to put out in the long run. Commit and Celebrate! Participate in class, ask questions, tell friends and family of your milestones. A) because you’ll be able to look back and really have memories, beyond just academic accomplishment and b) because you deserve it.