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1000 results for “message_in_a_bottle”
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Yo, ho, ho and a bottle of ... gin?
A Parks Canada archaeology technician on Sable Island (off the coast of Nova Scotia) recently found Gordon's Gin bottle that contained an old Canadian $2 bill and a note from over forty years ago.
"You could actually still recognize it as a Gordon's gin bottle ... it still had sort of the embossment of the name on it, but like a lot of the bottles on Sable Island — they don't break because there's no rocks on the island or around the island - they come up intact, but they do get quite sandblasted."
I always love stories like this. 🥰
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A 120 year-old message in a bottle has been found in the walls of a Tasmanian lighthouse
#OzHist #Tasmania #lighthouse -
On Saturday, a far-right convoy calling itself
“🔸God’s army🔸” is set to host rallies at different border towns along the US-Mexico border to decry what they call a migrant “invasion.”Throughout the week, the group’s organizers made their way from Virginia Beach to Jacksonville, Florida, before splitting into three groups heading to rallies in #Yuma, Arizona, #SanYsidro, California, and near #EaglePass, Texas.
On a “🔸Take Our Border Back🔸” website, they called on “all active & retired law enforcement and military, veterans, mama bears, elected officials, business owners, ranchers, truckers, bikers, media and LAW ABIDING, freedom-loving Americans.”
The convoy, whose organizers have been known to disseminate anti-vaccine and election denial messages, as well as QAnon conspiracy theories, emerged in reaction to growing tensions around an ongoing border standoff between Gov. Greg Abbott and the federal government in Eagle Pass, Texas.
The Lone Star State’s National Guard has taken control of a park there, sealing it off with concertina wire and denying US Border Patrol access to the migrant crossing area where a woman and two children recently drowned in the Rio Grande.
Though those involved have described the nature of the gathering as peaceful (one organizer called it a “spiritual battle”), qextremism experts haven’t discounted the possibility of an escalation and political violence, especially in light of extremist online chatter about “exterminating” migrants.
Ahead of Saturday, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) issued a national alert warning against “armed out-of-state extremists with a hate agenda.”
(The scope of the convoy came nowhere close to the organizers’ hopes for 700,000 participants.)
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DATE: May 15, 2026 at 08:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Scientists just revealed a strange quirk in how we exit train stations
URL: https://www.psypost.org/scientists-just-revealed-a-strange-quirk-in-how-we-exit-train-stations/
An analysis of data collected by a pedestrian tracking system at the Eindhoven Centraal Railway Station in the Netherlands found that, after exiting a train, individuals tend to follow the same walking path as the person directly in front of them. This happens even when they do not know that person and even when such a choice leads to a longer travel time. The research was published in the *Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences*.
When walking in crowded spaces such as busy streets, train or bus stations, airports, or mass gatherings, people generally try to reach their destination while avoiding obstacles, delays, collisions, and discomfort. Their route is shaped by physical features such as walls, doors, stairs, kiosks, corridors, signs, and bottlenecks. They also respond to crowd density, often avoiding areas that look too congested or slow.
Walking paths are likely influenced by perceived travel time, not only by actual distance, because a shorter route may feel worse if it is crowded. Also, being in a crowd forces people to continuously adjust their speed and direction in response to others moving around them. In such situations, they often follow visible flows of pedestrians because other people’s movement gives information about where a usable path may be. Social groups, such as friends or family members, also shape walking paths because members tend to stay together and follow the same route.
Study author Ziqi Wang and his colleagues used a large-scale, high-resolution dataset of pedestrian paths collected at tracks 3 and 4 of Eindhoven Centraal Railway Station using an advanced overhead pedestrian tracking system based on 3D stereoscopic imaging.
These sensors covered about 1400 m2 of the station, capturing data at 10 frames per second using overhead depth sensing without recording identifiable images of pedestrians. The system also provided very high spatial resolution, being able to detect changes of around 1 millimeter. In total, between March 2021 and March 2024, the system captured over 30 million pedestrian movement trajectories. This included people disembarking from the trains and the people already present on the platform.
In this analysis, the study authors focused on a subset of pedestrian trajectories where individuals, after getting off a train, had to choose between taking a direct, shorter path to the exit and a longer path that involved circumventing a kiosk in the middle of the platform. The authors analyzed the paths of passengers who exited the train from three specific door zones, including approximately 100,000 passengers.
To ensure they were studying the interactions between strangers rather than people traveling together, the researchers developed a mathematical algorithm to detect social groups. This system analyzed how close people were to each other, how much they matched each other’s speed, and if they moved in the same direction. Once these groups were identified and filtered out, the researchers could focus solely on independent pedestrians.
For each passenger included in the analysis, the study authors recorded their choice of route after exiting the train and the relative order in which they exited. This allowed them to study how individuals and crowds decide what path to take in the presence of congestion, differences in how the space is organized, and how local social dynamics—especially among strangers—affect those choices.
The results showed that, after exiting the train, passengers demonstrated a strong tendency to follow the same path as the person directly in front of them. This “stranger-following effect” happened even in the absence of any social ties, and even when following the stranger led to a longer travel time.
The study authors note that this tendency creates “avalanches” of choices, where sequences of people make identical decisions about their walking paths in succession, leading to strong patterns in collective movement.
To confirm these findings, the researchers built a theoretical routing model to simulate pedestrian behavior. They tested various factors, such as the natural randomness of walking speeds and the tendency of people to follow the majority (herding). However, they found that only by including the “stranger-following effect” could the model accurately reproduce the real-world patterns observed at the station. This indicates that local imitation behavior is the dominant driver of collective route choices in this scenario.
“These findings highlight how brief, low-level interactions between strangers can scale up to influence large-scale pedestrian movement, with strong implications for crowd management, urban design, and the broader understanding of social behavior in public spaces,” the study authors concluded.
The study contributes to the scientific understanding of how people choose their paths in crowded areas. However, it should be noted that the study was based on data concerning the movements of passengers exiting trains at three relatively fixed positions and moving towards the station exit. This situation greatly simplified and constrained the routing choices people could make. Results in environments with wider routing and end-goal options might differ.
The paper, “Avalanches of choice: how stranger-to-stranger interactions shape crowd dynamics,” was authored by Ziqi Wang, Alessandro Gabbana, and Federico Toschi.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/scientists-just-revealed-a-strange-quirk-in-how-we-exit-train-stations/
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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #StrangerFollowing #PedestrianDynamics #CrowdBehavior #UrbanMobility #CrowdManagement #PedestrianTraffic #AvalanchesOfChoice #SocialImitation #InstituteOfScience #PublicSpaceDesign
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DATE: May 15, 2026 at 08:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Scientists just revealed a strange quirk in how we exit train stations
URL: https://www.psypost.org/scientists-just-revealed-a-strange-quirk-in-how-we-exit-train-stations/
An analysis of data collected by a pedestrian tracking system at the Eindhoven Centraal Railway Station in the Netherlands found that, after exiting a train, individuals tend to follow the same walking path as the person directly in front of them. This happens even when they do not know that person and even when such a choice leads to a longer travel time. The research was published in the *Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences*.
When walking in crowded spaces such as busy streets, train or bus stations, airports, or mass gatherings, people generally try to reach their destination while avoiding obstacles, delays, collisions, and discomfort. Their route is shaped by physical features such as walls, doors, stairs, kiosks, corridors, signs, and bottlenecks. They also respond to crowd density, often avoiding areas that look too congested or slow.
Walking paths are likely influenced by perceived travel time, not only by actual distance, because a shorter route may feel worse if it is crowded. Also, being in a crowd forces people to continuously adjust their speed and direction in response to others moving around them. In such situations, they often follow visible flows of pedestrians because other people’s movement gives information about where a usable path may be. Social groups, such as friends or family members, also shape walking paths because members tend to stay together and follow the same route.
Study author Ziqi Wang and his colleagues used a large-scale, high-resolution dataset of pedestrian paths collected at tracks 3 and 4 of Eindhoven Centraal Railway Station using an advanced overhead pedestrian tracking system based on 3D stereoscopic imaging.
These sensors covered about 1400 m2 of the station, capturing data at 10 frames per second using overhead depth sensing without recording identifiable images of pedestrians. The system also provided very high spatial resolution, being able to detect changes of around 1 millimeter. In total, between March 2021 and March 2024, the system captured over 30 million pedestrian movement trajectories. This included people disembarking from the trains and the people already present on the platform.
In this analysis, the study authors focused on a subset of pedestrian trajectories where individuals, after getting off a train, had to choose between taking a direct, shorter path to the exit and a longer path that involved circumventing a kiosk in the middle of the platform. The authors analyzed the paths of passengers who exited the train from three specific door zones, including approximately 100,000 passengers.
To ensure they were studying the interactions between strangers rather than people traveling together, the researchers developed a mathematical algorithm to detect social groups. This system analyzed how close people were to each other, how much they matched each other’s speed, and if they moved in the same direction. Once these groups were identified and filtered out, the researchers could focus solely on independent pedestrians.
For each passenger included in the analysis, the study authors recorded their choice of route after exiting the train and the relative order in which they exited. This allowed them to study how individuals and crowds decide what path to take in the presence of congestion, differences in how the space is organized, and how local social dynamics—especially among strangers—affect those choices.
The results showed that, after exiting the train, passengers demonstrated a strong tendency to follow the same path as the person directly in front of them. This “stranger-following effect” happened even in the absence of any social ties, and even when following the stranger led to a longer travel time.
The study authors note that this tendency creates “avalanches” of choices, where sequences of people make identical decisions about their walking paths in succession, leading to strong patterns in collective movement.
To confirm these findings, the researchers built a theoretical routing model to simulate pedestrian behavior. They tested various factors, such as the natural randomness of walking speeds and the tendency of people to follow the majority (herding). However, they found that only by including the “stranger-following effect” could the model accurately reproduce the real-world patterns observed at the station. This indicates that local imitation behavior is the dominant driver of collective route choices in this scenario.
“These findings highlight how brief, low-level interactions between strangers can scale up to influence large-scale pedestrian movement, with strong implications for crowd management, urban design, and the broader understanding of social behavior in public spaces,” the study authors concluded.
The study contributes to the scientific understanding of how people choose their paths in crowded areas. However, it should be noted that the study was based on data concerning the movements of passengers exiting trains at three relatively fixed positions and moving towards the station exit. This situation greatly simplified and constrained the routing choices people could make. Results in environments with wider routing and end-goal options might differ.
The paper, “Avalanches of choice: how stranger-to-stranger interactions shape crowd dynamics,” was authored by Ziqi Wang, Alessandro Gabbana, and Federico Toschi.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/scientists-just-revealed-a-strange-quirk-in-how-we-exit-train-stations/
-------------------------------------------------
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NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org
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It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #StrangerFollowing #PedestrianDynamics #CrowdBehavior #UrbanMobility #CrowdManagement #PedestrianTraffic #AvalanchesOfChoice #SocialImitation #InstituteOfScience #PublicSpaceDesign
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Nazis and Radios
The Volksempfänger, the Nazi Party’s cheap radio receiver for listening to propaganda, in its bakelite case. Image from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ve301w.jpgIn July an online talk by Philip Blood (probably this guy) and a pass through Keegan’s Six Armies in Normandy made me think of the old debate about the effectiveness of the American, British, and Commonwealth armies in the Second World War. I had not known that Six Armies in Normandy was just Keegan’s second book from 1982, and that my 1994 Penguin edition was a reprint (A.J.P. Taylor wrote a blurb!)
Keegan’s book shows his strengths and weaknesses as a historian: it is beautifully written, expresses his unique view of the world, but rarely acknowledges doubt or explains where his facts and interpretations come from. Keegan gives himself authority by dropping in French and German phrases and alluding to prestigious novelists and playwrights, but not by showing that he understands a mass of evidence and arguments and can argue why his interpretation is best. The maps are inadequate, the photos numerous but ornamental. Because Six Armies in Normandy rarely cites sources, and because I’m not a specialist in WW II, I will not try to review it. But I will use some quotes to show places where I might have been wrong or where I don’t know how to balance two ways of thinking.
One of the most common factoids about the Second World War in Europe is that during the Battle of France, French commanders settled comfortably into châteaus and communicated only by a small number of telephone lines. Naturally (the story goes) these soft, old-fashioned generals were beaten by their hard, modern opponents!
Rommel decided later that day, June 9th, that he would defer the counter-offensive until more of the marching divisions from the interior had arrived. Its planning meanwhile was consigned to Geyr von Schweppenburg. The officer’s headquarters had hihterto played the role of government-in-waiting for, though specifically organized to prepare and control large armoured operations, the necessary troops had been withheld from it until the appearance of the Allies on the beaches, and indeed for some time after that. Now called to life, it had installed itself with some amplitude at Thury-Harcourt, twelve miles south of Caen, where Geyr and his officers lived in the Château of la Caine and the clerks and signallers worked under canvas in the orchard outside. Communication was provided by four large radio trucks. As soon as they had come on the air, however, their transmissions had been picked up by the British monitoring service and the intercepts subject to Traffic Analysis. Traffic analysis is a technique which helps to identify where and from whom transmissions eminate, rather than what the encoded messages contain – that information was extracted by the Ultra service at Bletchley.
…
So, on the evening of June 10th, rocket-firing Typhoons of 83 Group, Royal Air Force, and Mitchell medium bombers of 2 Group suddenly appeared oover la Caine and subjected it to devastating attack. Geyr and one of his officers escaped with wounds. His chief of staff, von Dawans, and twelve other officers were killed, the equipment of the headquarters destroyed, and the survivors transferred to Paris. For the time being, Panzer Group West ceased to function alltogether, and command of the armoured divisions was temporarily entrusted to the chief of I SS Panzer Corps, who decided that he did not share Geyr’s belief on the feasability of a major armoured counter-stroke.Keegan, Six Armies in Normandy (Penguin 1994) pp. 150, 151
The Allies did not have to fight the counterattack, they just bombed the people who were organizing it. There are many stories about German generals in Normandy being attacked in their staff cars and wounded or killed. Blood says that after 10 June, German commanders were scared to use their radios, so had to drive around and send messengers to understand the situation and communicate with their troops. The state which had pioneered the use of the radio for propaganda was unable to use radios to fight a war.
Another factoid about the period of German victories is that every German tank had at least a radio receiver while most of their opponents were reduced to sticking their heads out a hatch and waving flags. As most of their opponents had only one or two men in the turret, those men had many other things to do than see whether someone was waving at them (even if the air was not full of bullets and shell fragments). Some recent British research challenges this:
In all the studies commissioned by the British to report on captured Panzer IIIs in North Africa, all noted the absence of radios. It is unlikely that they were taken as souveniers, as more attractive items remained in the tanks, and therefore we can conclude that either the Germans were particularly good at removing radio sets when tanks were abandoned (often under fire), or that more likely there was a serious shortage of radios in the Deutsches Afrika Korps.
Dick Taylor, Mike Hayton, David Willey, and The Tank Museum, Panzer III Owners’ Workshop Manual (Haynes Publishing, 2017) p. 140
(Notice how the book on arms and armour, written by an army officer, is more sophisticated in its argument and its use of evidence than the stylish history by a professor with a PhD?)
Keegan tells some stories where the German army’s use of electronic communication and sensing is not very sophisticated. I give one example with bonus Nazi-punching (and CanCon!):
(Some lifelong Nazi) intervened in the battle at a point near Caen. It was growing dark. Leading on a motorcycle, his preferred command vehicle, he drove westward down the Caen-Bayeaux road with the divisional Panther (tank) battalion strung out behind him and the men of the reconnaissance battalion riding on their hulls. Just short of the headquarters of the Regina Rifles in Brettenville l’Orgueilleuse, the tanks stopped to shoot up the village. Then, when persuaded that resistance had been crushed, they advanced and drove round the Reginas’ position Sioux-style to look for a way in for the kill. The Reginas had been holding their fire (with their six-pounder anti-tank guns) … Six Panthers short of the twenty-two with which he had begun his Walkürenritt six hours before, (the Nazi) turned his motorcycle as the glimmer of dawn showed before Bayeaux and rode away from the burning ruins.
Keegan, Six Armies in Normandy, pp. 149, 150 nb. I think Totenritt was the Prussian military expression, thanks Robert Citino
I don’t know much about modern warfare but what are the reconnaissance elements of an armoured unit doing riding on the tanks instead of driving out ahead of them so the tanks don’t stumble into antitank weapons? Shouldn’t they be driving armoured cars or motorcycles or something small and cheap? I feel like I don’t understand many things about how the old German army remained so formidable in 1944 and 1945 while losing more and more technical capabilities. And I feel like I don’t understand how to balance the argument that fighting Hitler’s ground forces was always hard and miserable, and the argument that from the middle of 1943, Allied artillery and airpower could pin Axis forces in Europe to the ground, break up their counterattacks before they got going, and locate and decrypt their communications so the outcome of the fighting was just a matter of time and blood. Americans in the 1980s complained that Nazi German infantry had had better machine guns and more mortars than their infantry did, but machine guns and mortars are cheap, short-ranged weapons. Even insurgents can usually keep a few machine guns rattling and a few tubes firing!
Keegan’s history from 1982 has other interesting aspects, such as the paragraph where he noticed that de Gaule refused to let black Africans take part in the liberation of France, even though they had been good enough to die for France in both World Wars (p. 303). I don’t know how to reconcile that with the Keegan who wrote a colonialist History of Warfare (1994) but the greatest of wonders or terrors is man. He also has space for vignettes like a refugee woman in Caen looking for something to protect her child from being blinded by the bombs of his would-be liberators. And a general history of radio and radar in WW II would have to touch on things like the proximity fuse or the Allies using radio signals to convince the German leaders that there was a First US Army Group waiting to descend on the Pas de Calais after D-Day so they could not move all their forces to Normandy until it was too late.
I have been reading about World War Two during the first four years of COVID because I don’t know much about it although I can sound like I know something from reading blog posts and listening to lectures. And a lot of discourse about ancient warfare is really about World War Two, particularly in the United States. So I thought it would be worthwhile to write this post about some of the things I don’t know, can’t reconcile, or where I may have some ideas from the 1990s which were refuted in the 2010s. On subjects where I am not an expert, I try to pass on what most experts seem to agree on, but I am not always right about what that is!
I think Trevor Dupuy in the 1980s was the most famous advocate that “On a man for man basis, German ground soldiers consistently inflicted casualties at about a 50 percent higher rate than they incurred from the opposing British and American troops under all circumstances,” and we have learned a lot about WW II and its documentary record since then. Many of the weapons which are in the news today such as drones, cruise missiles, and multiple rocket launchers were first deployed during WW II.
Further Reading: on the organization of engineering in WW II, it might be educational to read Calum E. Douglas, The Secret Horsepower Race: Western Front Fighter Engine Development (Tempest, 2020)
Sönke Neitzel, Deutsche Krieger. Vom Kaiserreich zur Berliner Republik – eine Militärgeschichte
Groß, Gerhard P. (2012) Mythos und Wirklichkeit. Die Geschichte des operativen Denkens im deutschen Heer von Moltke d. Ä. bis Heusinger. Zeitalter der Weltkriege, Band 9 (Ferdinand Schönigh: Paderborn). Translated as Gerhard P. Groß, tr. David T. Zabecki, The Myth and Reality of German Warfare: Operational Thinking from Moltke the Elder to Heusinger. Foreign Military Studies (University Press of Kentucky, 2018).
Edit 2023-08-28: added books by Groß and Neitzel
Edit 2025-07-13: fuller cite to the Haynes manual to the Pz III
(begun 19 July 2023)
#bookReview #communication #historyOfTechnology #intellience #methodology #modern #SecondWorldWar #systemsThinking
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Happy Caturday!!
I recently learned that cats were used by both sides during the battle for women’s suffrage. They were used on posters and postcards to supposedly dehumanize women fighting for the right to vote, but were also used in support of women’s suffrage.
From John’s Hopkins exibits: The Suffrage Cat
The women’s suffrage movement was an exceptionally controversial topic in both the United States and England. Postcard manufacturers hired artists to create visually appealing postcards about women’s suffrage. A popular subject was the suffrage cat, which was used for both pro- and anti-suffrage messaging. In Victorian culture, the cat was often associated with the female sphere; the indoor cat represented the passive, ideal homemaker, and the outdoor cat was brazen, feral and fallen. Defining how the cat was intended to be viewed as a symbol in women’s suffrage postcards can be a challenge, as seen in some of the selections below.
At that link, you can see descriptive text about some of the images I’ve posted here.
From The National Park Service: Women’s Suffrage and the Cat
In the 1800s and early 1900s, many women and men supported women’s suffrage (the right to vote). There were, however, people that opposed the idea. One of the prevailing beliefs was that voting power would diminish a woman’s role as caretaker of the family. Some women and men felt so strongly about this that they founded anti-suffragist organizations. Cartoonists also created advertisements and postcards supporting anti-suffragists. These ads often featured animals to make a point.
In popular mainstream culture at the time, women were associated with animals perceived as passive, like cats. Social norms dictated that middle class, white women should stay in the home. Men, however, were expected to occupy public spaces and partake in physical exercise. As a result, men were often associated with physically active animals like dogs. Anti-suffrage artists used these animals symbolically in their cartoons.
Cats were more often used in British anti-suffragist ads. Anti-suffrage organizations in Britain used cats to try to make the point that women were simple and delicate. The cartoons implied that women’s suffrage was just as absurd as cat suffrage because women (and cats) were incapable of voting.
Cats were also used symbolically in some American anti-suffrage ads. A number of American cartoons showed men at home with a cat, taking care of the children. The cat symbolized a loss of the man’s masculinity. Some people believed that if women participated in politics, men would be left at home to raise the children.
Suffragists took back the meaning of the cat in 1916. That April, suffragists Nell Richardson and Alice Burke started a cross-country road trip in a two-seater car they called “The Golden Flier.” Members of the press at the send-off ceremony in New York City reported that the car looked like “a little yellow ant scuttling off through the crowds of limousines and autotrucks which lined the streets” (New York Tribune, April 07, 1916).
Over the next several months, the women stopped in New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio, Texas, California, Washington and other states across the country to talk about the importance of women’s suffrage. During their trip, the women adopted a cat that became their unofficial mascot. They named him Saxon, after the manufacturer of the Golden Flier.
Over the next several months, the women spent long hours standing on street corners and in public parks making speeches about suffrage. Alice Burke commented that they were in the sun so often that they let their “noses blister and burn” and their “hair sizzle.” Burke and Richardson were not the only ones enduring the hot weather. Burke wrote in her diary:
The little black kitten is suffering as much as we are from the heat, but he keeps under a cover, and all we can see around the corner of it is a pink nose and a youthful whisker.” (New York Tribune, May 29, 1916)
Now for some news. The mainstream media and some Democrats are still trying to get President Biden to end his campaign for a second term; but last night he gave a speech to an enthusiastic audience in Detroit that should begin to quiet the naysayers. I hope you were able to watch it, because it was impressive. Biden spoke extemporaneously for 35 minutes–no teleprompter and no notes. And the audience loved it. They chanted “Don’t you quit” and “We’ve got your back.” These people are the base of the Democratic Party, and they still love Joe Biden. Biden is also up 2 points on Trump in the latest polls, despite the massive efforts to bring him down.
Here’s the speech:
It’s difficult to find honest reporting on the speech, because most in the press are still hoping to end Biden’s campaign. I really think some of these “journalists” really want Trump back in the White House because they think it will further their careers. Here’s just one example from Politico: Inside Biden’s sputtering campaign to restore Dems’ confidence.
Three of Joe Biden’s senior aides entered a Senate Democratic lunch on Thursday armed with internal and external polls showing the presidential race still within the margin of error, hoping to keep this last bastion of support from abandoning his embattled campaign.
During a difficult and at times tearful meeting with Mike Donilon, Steve Ricchetti and Jen O’Malley Dillon, senators aired concerns about the president’s ability to serve for another four years, his path to defeat former President Donald Trump and the effect Biden’s poor polling might have on Democrats running down the ballot, according to five people familiar with the meeting who were granted anonymity to describe private discussions.
But by the end of the lunch, Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania had enough.
“You have legacies, too,” Fetterman said, according to the people, asking what those legacies would become “if you fuck over a great president over a bad debate.”
Then, the first-term senator called the question: Who was with him — committed to sticking with Biden as the party’s nominee?
No more than four people signaled that they were, according to four of the people familiar with the meeting. While not every Senate Democrat was in attendance and some had trickled out of the lunch already, Fetterman, Sens. Chris Coons of Delaware and Tammy Duckworth of Illinois thought Biden should continue.
The paltry show of support for Biden behind closed doors revealed that for all the indecision about whether and how to confront Biden, elected Democrats’ confidence in the president had plunged to a ruinous low. While Senate Democrats have largely kept quiet publicly, Biden may have to plow ahead despite an overwhelming lack of confidence from his former Senate colleagues. The majority of the Democratic caucus left Thursday’s meeting just as, if not more, concerned about the path the party is on with Biden atop the ticket.
Of course, the naysayers are always anonymous. Fuck them! Use you name or STFU.
Here’s another take from Sahil Kapur at NBC News: Biden blasts Project 2025 in Michigan and ties it to Trump in effort to regain footing.
DETROIT — President Joe Biden tore into the “right-wing Project 2025” and made it a central theme of his speech at a rally Friday in battleground Michigan as he seeks to put a lid on Democratic calls that he withdraw from the presidential race.
“Folks, Project 2025 is the biggest attack on our system of government and on our personal freedom that’s ever been proposed in the history of this country,” Biden told the crowd, adding that the initiative “is run and paid for by Trump people” and is “a blueprint for a second Trump.”
Biden, rousing the crowd with a more energetic performance than usual, said it would unleash a “nightmare” on the country if his Republican rival is elected and implements it. “Another four years of Donald Trump is deadly serious. Project 2025 is deadly serious,” Biden said, describing it as a threat to American values
When he took the stage, Biden was greeted to chants of “Don’t you quit!” and “We got your back!” The president told them there’s “a lot of speculation lately” about whether he’ll stay in the race.
“I am running, and we’re going to win!” he said….
Biden is zeroing in on Project 2025 as a mechanism to unify the Democratic Party as it splinters over his future in the race, following a shocking debate performance that some in the party see as politically fatal to his re-election prospects. Numerous voters at the rally stood by him and voiced displeasure with the Democrats calling on him to step aside. And it was clear the right-wing document has caught on across within the Democratic Party as a rallying cry for those eager to keep Trump out of the White House.
A Biden aide said the president’s campaign plans to continue focusing on Project 2025 at next week’s GOP convention.
Kapur asked voters about Project 2025:
Before Biden’s remarks at the Detroit rally, the first seven Michigan voters NBC News spoke to were all aware of Project 2025 — and had strong opinions on it.
“It’s horrific. It would totally dismantle our democracy, fill the whole government with loyalists to Trump,” said Deanna Zapico, of Royal Oak. “It would be like Hitler in 1933. There wouldn’t be an election in a long time. That’s my fear.”
“I’m sharing it with everybody,” Zapico said.
Deborah Fuertes, of Brighton, summed it up in one word: “Scary.”
“This is an existential threat,” she said.Trump’s “name’s all over that thing,” said Angela Heard, a sales manager based in Grosse Pointe Woods. “If we don’t get our s— together we’re gonna be like ‘The Handmaid’s Tale.’”
Here’s an indication that Project 2025 could be getting the attention people who don’t generally follow politics closely–People magazine published an in-depth article on the Trump plan. Kyler Alvord writes: What Is Project 2025? Inside the Far-Right Plan Threatening Everything from the Word ‘Gender’ to Public Education.
A sweeping proposal for how Donald Trump should handle a second term in office has sparked concern for its implications on the role of federal government and its calls to eliminate a number of basic human rights.
The 2025 Presidential Transition Project, more commonly known as Project 2025, released a 900-page manifesto last year titled “Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise.” The policy guidebook — compiled by the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation in partnership with more than 100 other conservative organizations — lays out a far-right, Christian nationalist vision for America that would corrode the separation of church and state, replace nonpartisan government employees with Trump loyalists and bolster the president’s authority over independent agencies.
Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts, a rumored candidate for Trump’s chief of staff in a second term, promoted his group’s extreme positions during a July interview, saying, “We are in the process of the second American Revolution, which will remain bloodless if the left allows it to be.”
Down with the tomcats
Shortly after Roberts’ controversial interview, Trump attempted to distance himself from Project 2025, saying on Truth Social that he knows “nothing” about it and has “no idea who is behind it,” before adding that he disagrees with some of its propositions.
While Project 2025 is not formally a part of Trump’s campaign platform, it has been led and supported by several influential people in his orbit. The project’s top leaders all worked in Trump’s White House and a number of the manifesto’s contributors also served in the Trump administration, including but not limited to former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson and imprisoned former trade adviser Peter Navarro.
Equally damaging to Trump’s claim that he is unfamiliar with Project 2025 is that he worked closely with the Heritage Foundation when he was first elected president. He was provided a similar “Mandate for Leadership” back in 2016, and enacted nearly two-thirds of the group’s proposals within his first year in office.
The Heritage Foundation also reportedly played a behind-the-scenes role on Trump’s presidential transition team and had a significant hand in staffing the administration.
Alvord also addressed Project 2025’s goal of eliminating the wall between church and state.
Project 2025 establishes a framework for guiding the federal government through a biblical lens. Across nearly 1,000 pages, the mandate pushes an unpopular interpretation of the Christian agenda that would target reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ people and people of color by effectively erasing mention of all related terms, protections and troublesome historical accounts.
Though the mandate accuses the “woke” left of infringing on people’s religious freedoms, its policies are rooted in a singular, extremist view of how society should function based on its authors’ own Christian nationalist values. It repeatedly calls for the punishment, even imprisonment, of people who do not conform to the think tank’s platform.
The proposed policies in Project 2025’s mandate stem from four stated goals. In its words: restoring the family as the centerpiece of American life, dismantling the administrative state, defending the nation’s sovereignty and securing God-given individual rights.
Through a holistic approach to restructuring the government, it would seek to give Trump heightened authority to enact his backers’ platform in every city and state — often encouraging the president to creatively subvert congressional approval.
Read the rest at People Magazine. It’s very detailed.
Speaking of Christian nationalism, ProPublica has an investigative article on a shadowy organization of rich people working to influence the 2024 election. Andy Kroll and Nick Surgey: Inside Ziklag, the Secret Organization of Wealthy Christians Trying to Sway the Election and Change the Country. The subhead reads: “The little-known charity is backed by famous conservative donors, including the families behind Hobby Lobby and Uline. It’s spending millions to make a big political push for this election — but it may be violating the law.”
A network of ultrawealthy Christian donors is spending nearly $12 million to mobilize Republican-leaning voters and purge more than a million people from the rolls in key swing states, aiming to tilt the 2024 election in favor of former President Donald Trump.
These previously unreported plans are the work of a group named Ziklag, a little-known charity whose donors have included some of the wealthiest conservative Christian families in the nation, including the billionaire Uihlein family, who made a fortune in office supplies, the Greens, who run Hobby Lobby, and the Wallers, who own the Jockey apparel corporation. Recipients of Ziklag’s largesse include Alliance Defending Freedom, which is the Christian legal group that led the overturning of Roe v. Wade, plus the national pro-Trump group Turning Point USA and a constellation of right-of-center advocacy groups.
1908
ProPublica and Documented obtained thousands of Ziklag’s members-only email newsletters, internal videos, strategy documents and fundraising pitches, none of which has been previously made public. They reveal the group’s 2024 plans and its long-term goal to underpin every major sphere of influence in American society with Christianity. In the Bible, the city of Ziklag was where David and his soldiers found refuge during their war with King Saul.
“We are in a spiritual battle and locked in a terrible conflict with the powers of darkness,” says a strategy document that lays out Ziklag’s 30-year vision to “redirect the trajectory of American culture toward Christ by bringing back Biblical structure, order and truth to our Nation.”
Ziklag’s 2024 agenda reads like the work of a political organization. It plans to pour money into mobilizing voters in Arizona who are “sympathetic to Republicans” in order to secure “10,640 additional unique votes” — almost the exact margin of President Joe Biden’s win there in 2020. The group also intends to use controversial AI software to enable mass challenges to the eligibility of hundreds of thousands of voters in competitive states.
In a recording of a 2023 internal strategy discussion, a Ziklag official stressed that the objective was the same in other swing states. “The goal is to win,” the official said. “If 75,000 people wins the White House, then how do we get 150,000 people so we make sure we win?”
According to the Ziklag files, the group has divided its 2024 activities into three different operations targeting voters in battleground states: Checkmate, focused on funding so-called election integrity groups; Steeplechase, concentrated on using churches and pastors to get out the vote; and Watchtower, aimed at galvanizing voters around the issues of “parental rights” and opposition to transgender rights and policies supporting health care for trans people.
In a member briefing video, one of Ziklag’s spiritual advisers outlined a plan to “deliver swing states” by using an anti-transgender message to motivate conservative voters who are exhausted with Trump.
But Ziklag is not a political organization: It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charity, the same legal designation as the United Way or Boys and Girls Club. Such organizations do not have to publicly disclose their funders, and donations are tax deductible. In exchange, they are “absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office,” according to the IRS.
Read the whole thing at ProPublica.
In other news, you probably heard that Mark Zuckerberg has bowed down to Trump. Raw Story: ‘So the despotic threats worked?’: Outrage as Facebook lifts limits on Trump’s accounts.
Critics shredded Meta’s decision to ease restrictions placed on former President Donald Trump’s Instagram and Facebook accounts.
Axios reported Friday the social media titan planned to soon roll back limits it placed on Trump’s accounts as it aimed to allow for more parity leading up to the Nov. 5 election. The tech giant said a minor violation could lead to his accounts being suspended up to two years or restricted.
The move comes more than a year after he was reinstated to the platforms but with limits such as suspensions and advertising restrictions for violating company rules.
Stunned social media critics blasted the decision.
“So the despotic threats worked?” asked @JenBaty, pointing to Trump’s threat on Truth Social that the “ZUCKERBUCKS (sic),” a reference to Facebook cofounder Mark Zuckerberg, “will be sent to prison for long periods of time.”
Trump has previously said Zuckerberg “cheated” in the 2020 election.
“Why isn’t he being prosecuted?” he wrote last year. “The Democrats only know how to cheat. America isn’t going to take it much longer!”
A few stories on the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee next week:
AP: Deeply Democratic Milwaukee wrestles with hosting Trump and the Republican National Convention.
Milwaukee loves its Miller Beer, Brewers baseball and “ Bronze Fonz ” statue.
The deepest blue city in swing state Wisconsin, Milwaukee also loves Democrats.
So it can be hard for some to swallow that Milwaukee is playing host to former President Donald Trump and the Republican National Convention this coming week while rival Chicago, the larger city just 90 miles to the south, welcomes President Joe Biden and Democrats in August.
It didn’t help smooth things over with wary Democrats after Trump used the word “horrible” when talking about Milwaukee just a month before the convention that begins Monday.
Adding to the angst, Milwaukee was supposed to host the Democratic National Convention in 2020, but it didn’t happen due to COVID. Owners of local restaurants, bars and venues say the number of reservations that were promised during the RNC aren’t materializing. And protesters complained the city was trying to keep them too far away from the convention site to have an impact.
“I wish I was out of town for it,” Jake Schneider, 29, said as he passed by the city’s statue of Fonzie, the character played by Henry Winkler in the 1970s sitcom “Happy Days” that was set in Milwaukee. “I’m not super happy that it’s the Republican Party coming to town.” [….]
Ryan Clancy, a self-described democratic socialist who is a state representative and serves on the Milwaukee County Board, puts it more bluntly: “It is shameful that we rolled out the red carpet for the RNC.”
Former President Donald Trump will be officially renominated next week to be the Republican Party’s standard-bearer for the third presidential election in a row as he seeks to return to the Oval Office.
GOP delegates from around the country will gather in Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention, with much of the country following along through the primetime speeches each night.
These speeches have historically allowed presidential candidates to unify discord from aggressive primary campaigns, and the conventions offer a high-profile platform to sway undecided voters.
While an official list of speakers hasn’t yet been announced, here are some of the people who’ve reportedly been tapped to demonstrate their support for Trump on stage next week.
The list includes Donald Trump, Jr., Ron DeSantis, Sean O’Brien (Teamsters president), David Sacks (Elon Musk’s pal), Kari Lake, Elise Stefanik, and more. She’s not listed, but I heard that Margery Taylor Green will also speak.
Politico: The unusual legal risk Trump will have to navigate at the RNC.
Donald Trump will be rubbing elbows in Milwaukee with a crowd that may include dozens of witnesses and alleged co-conspirators in his criminal cases — people he has sworn not to communicate with about details of the charges against him.
Avoiding them may not be possible for the former president during the four-day convention, creating an unusual dynamic, and a potential legal liability for Trump, against the backdrop of a national nominating convention.
1911
“If I were a Trump attorney, my biggest fear might be that Trump finds himself in close quarters with a defendant and starts running his mouth off,” said Anthony Kreis, a law professor at Georgia State University.
Several false electors for Trump in 2020 who were charged with crimes in Arizona, Nevada and Georgia are expected to be at the Republican National Convention. In addition, many of Trump’s former White House aides who testified to grand juries in Washington and Florida are likely to be on hand. Though the roster of speakers hasn’t been publicly shared, there’s a high likelihood that others embroiled in Trump’s alleged crimes — a long list of GOP officials and activists — will also be there.
The situation is, like many things associated with Trump, unprecedented, and it’s hard to gauge the likelihood that an interaction in a crowded convention hall could become legally perilous for the former president. But it’s not zero, according to legal experts.
“I imagine the tight scripted nature of the convention will help isolate Trump from that danger,” Kreis said. “But you also never know.”
General attacks on the prosecutions he’s facing in Washington, Florida and Georgia — familiar themes in Trump rallies and speeches — or superficial encounters with people involved in his cases are unlikely to raise prosecutors’ eyebrows. But legal experts say there are lines Trump could cross if he mentions codefendants or witnesses by name or has more substantive interactions with them. And even general remarks, whether scripted or extemporaneous, could present risks if they could be interpreted as pressure on witnesses against cooperation or an attempt to influence their future testimony.
Those are my recommended reads for today. I hope you find something that interests you.
https://skydancingblog.com/2024/07/13/lazy-caturday-reads-170/
#BidenSpeechInDetroit #ChristianNationalism #HeritageFoundation #mainstreamMedia #MarkZukerberg #Meta #Milwaukee #Project2025 #RepublicanNationalConvention2024 #suffragettesAndCats #womenSSuffrage #Ziklag
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Happy Caturday!!
I recently learned that cats were used by both sides during the battle for women’s suffrage. They were used on posters and postcards to supposedly dehumanize women fighting for the right to vote, but were also used in support of women’s suffrage.
From John’s Hopkins exibits: The Suffrage Cat
The women’s suffrage movement was an exceptionally controversial topic in both the United States and England. Postcard manufacturers hired artists to create visually appealing postcards about women’s suffrage. A popular subject was the suffrage cat, which was used for both pro- and anti-suffrage messaging. In Victorian culture, the cat was often associated with the female sphere; the indoor cat represented the passive, ideal homemaker, and the outdoor cat was brazen, feral and fallen. Defining how the cat was intended to be viewed as a symbol in women’s suffrage postcards can be a challenge, as seen in some of the selections below.
At that link, you can see descriptive text about some of the images I’ve posted here.
From The National Park Service: Women’s Suffrage and the Cat
In the 1800s and early 1900s, many women and men supported women’s suffrage (the right to vote). There were, however, people that opposed the idea. One of the prevailing beliefs was that voting power would diminish a woman’s role as caretaker of the family. Some women and men felt so strongly about this that they founded anti-suffragist organizations. Cartoonists also created advertisements and postcards supporting anti-suffragists. These ads often featured animals to make a point.
In popular mainstream culture at the time, women were associated with animals perceived as passive, like cats. Social norms dictated that middle class, white women should stay in the home. Men, however, were expected to occupy public spaces and partake in physical exercise. As a result, men were often associated with physically active animals like dogs. Anti-suffrage artists used these animals symbolically in their cartoons.
Cats were more often used in British anti-suffragist ads. Anti-suffrage organizations in Britain used cats to try to make the point that women were simple and delicate. The cartoons implied that women’s suffrage was just as absurd as cat suffrage because women (and cats) were incapable of voting.
Cats were also used symbolically in some American anti-suffrage ads. A number of American cartoons showed men at home with a cat, taking care of the children. The cat symbolized a loss of the man’s masculinity. Some people believed that if women participated in politics, men would be left at home to raise the children.
Suffragists took back the meaning of the cat in 1916. That April, suffragists Nell Richardson and Alice Burke started a cross-country road trip in a two-seater car they called “The Golden Flier.” Members of the press at the send-off ceremony in New York City reported that the car looked like “a little yellow ant scuttling off through the crowds of limousines and autotrucks which lined the streets” (New York Tribune, April 07, 1916).
Over the next several months, the women stopped in New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio, Texas, California, Washington and other states across the country to talk about the importance of women’s suffrage. During their trip, the women adopted a cat that became their unofficial mascot. They named him Saxon, after the manufacturer of the Golden Flier.
Over the next several months, the women spent long hours standing on street corners and in public parks making speeches about suffrage. Alice Burke commented that they were in the sun so often that they let their “noses blister and burn” and their “hair sizzle.” Burke and Richardson were not the only ones enduring the hot weather. Burke wrote in her diary:
The little black kitten is suffering as much as we are from the heat, but he keeps under a cover, and all we can see around the corner of it is a pink nose and a youthful whisker.” (New York Tribune, May 29, 1916)
Now for some news. The mainstream media and some Democrats are still trying to get President Biden to end his campaign for a second term; but last night he gave a speech to an enthusiastic audience in Detroit that should begin to quiet the naysayers. I hope you were able to watch it, because it was impressive. Biden spoke extemporaneously for 35 minutes–no teleprompter and no notes. And the audience loved it. They chanted “Don’t you quit” and “We’ve got your back.” These people are the base of the Democratic Party, and they still love Joe Biden. Biden is also up 2 points on Trump in the latest polls, despite the massive efforts to bring him down.
Here’s the speech:
It’s difficult to find honest reporting on the speech, because most in the press are still hoping to end Biden’s campaign. I really think some of these “journalists” really want Trump back in the White House because they think it will further their careers. Here’s just one example from Politico: Inside Biden’s sputtering campaign to restore Dems’ confidence.
Three of Joe Biden’s senior aides entered a Senate Democratic lunch on Thursday armed with internal and external polls showing the presidential race still within the margin of error, hoping to keep this last bastion of support from abandoning his embattled campaign.
During a difficult and at times tearful meeting with Mike Donilon, Steve Ricchetti and Jen O’Malley Dillon, senators aired concerns about the president’s ability to serve for another four years, his path to defeat former President Donald Trump and the effect Biden’s poor polling might have on Democrats running down the ballot, according to five people familiar with the meeting who were granted anonymity to describe private discussions.
But by the end of the lunch, Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania had enough.
“You have legacies, too,” Fetterman said, according to the people, asking what those legacies would become “if you fuck over a great president over a bad debate.”
Then, the first-term senator called the question: Who was with him — committed to sticking with Biden as the party’s nominee?
No more than four people signaled that they were, according to four of the people familiar with the meeting. While not every Senate Democrat was in attendance and some had trickled out of the lunch already, Fetterman, Sens. Chris Coons of Delaware and Tammy Duckworth of Illinois thought Biden should continue.
The paltry show of support for Biden behind closed doors revealed that for all the indecision about whether and how to confront Biden, elected Democrats’ confidence in the president had plunged to a ruinous low. While Senate Democrats have largely kept quiet publicly, Biden may have to plow ahead despite an overwhelming lack of confidence from his former Senate colleagues. The majority of the Democratic caucus left Thursday’s meeting just as, if not more, concerned about the path the party is on with Biden atop the ticket.
Of course, the naysayers are always anonymous. Fuck them! Use you name or STFU.
Here’s another take from Sahil Kapur at NBC News: Biden blasts Project 2025 in Michigan and ties it to Trump in effort to regain footing.
DETROIT — President Joe Biden tore into the “right-wing Project 2025” and made it a central theme of his speech at a rally Friday in battleground Michigan as he seeks to put a lid on Democratic calls that he withdraw from the presidential race.
“Folks, Project 2025 is the biggest attack on our system of government and on our personal freedom that’s ever been proposed in the history of this country,” Biden told the crowd, adding that the initiative “is run and paid for by Trump people” and is “a blueprint for a second Trump.”
Biden, rousing the crowd with a more energetic performance than usual, said it would unleash a “nightmare” on the country if his Republican rival is elected and implements it. “Another four years of Donald Trump is deadly serious. Project 2025 is deadly serious,” Biden said, describing it as a threat to American values
When he took the stage, Biden was greeted to chants of “Don’t you quit!” and “We got your back!” The president told them there’s “a lot of speculation lately” about whether he’ll stay in the race.
“I am running, and we’re going to win!” he said….
Biden is zeroing in on Project 2025 as a mechanism to unify the Democratic Party as it splinters over his future in the race, following a shocking debate performance that some in the party see as politically fatal to his re-election prospects. Numerous voters at the rally stood by him and voiced displeasure with the Democrats calling on him to step aside. And it was clear the right-wing document has caught on across within the Democratic Party as a rallying cry for those eager to keep Trump out of the White House.
A Biden aide said the president’s campaign plans to continue focusing on Project 2025 at next week’s GOP convention.
Kapur asked voters about Project 2025:
Before Biden’s remarks at the Detroit rally, the first seven Michigan voters NBC News spoke to were all aware of Project 2025 — and had strong opinions on it.
“It’s horrific. It would totally dismantle our democracy, fill the whole government with loyalists to Trump,” said Deanna Zapico, of Royal Oak. “It would be like Hitler in 1933. There wouldn’t be an election in a long time. That’s my fear.”
“I’m sharing it with everybody,” Zapico said.
Deborah Fuertes, of Brighton, summed it up in one word: “Scary.”
“This is an existential threat,” she said.Trump’s “name’s all over that thing,” said Angela Heard, a sales manager based in Grosse Pointe Woods. “If we don’t get our s— together we’re gonna be like ‘The Handmaid’s Tale.’”
Here’s an indication that Project 2025 could be getting the attention people who don’t generally follow politics closely–People magazine published an in-depth article on the Trump plan. Kyler Alvord writes: What Is Project 2025? Inside the Far-Right Plan Threatening Everything from the Word ‘Gender’ to Public Education.
A sweeping proposal for how Donald Trump should handle a second term in office has sparked concern for its implications on the role of federal government and its calls to eliminate a number of basic human rights.
The 2025 Presidential Transition Project, more commonly known as Project 2025, released a 900-page manifesto last year titled “Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise.” The policy guidebook — compiled by the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation in partnership with more than 100 other conservative organizations — lays out a far-right, Christian nationalist vision for America that would corrode the separation of church and state, replace nonpartisan government employees with Trump loyalists and bolster the president’s authority over independent agencies.
Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts, a rumored candidate for Trump’s chief of staff in a second term, promoted his group’s extreme positions during a July interview, saying, “We are in the process of the second American Revolution, which will remain bloodless if the left allows it to be.”
Down with the tomcats
Shortly after Roberts’ controversial interview, Trump attempted to distance himself from Project 2025, saying on Truth Social that he knows “nothing” about it and has “no idea who is behind it,” before adding that he disagrees with some of its propositions.
While Project 2025 is not formally a part of Trump’s campaign platform, it has been led and supported by several influential people in his orbit. The project’s top leaders all worked in Trump’s White House and a number of the manifesto’s contributors also served in the Trump administration, including but not limited to former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson and imprisoned former trade adviser Peter Navarro.
Equally damaging to Trump’s claim that he is unfamiliar with Project 2025 is that he worked closely with the Heritage Foundation when he was first elected president. He was provided a similar “Mandate for Leadership” back in 2016, and enacted nearly two-thirds of the group’s proposals within his first year in office.
The Heritage Foundation also reportedly played a behind-the-scenes role on Trump’s presidential transition team and had a significant hand in staffing the administration.
Alvord also addressed Project 2025’s goal of eliminating the wall between church and state.
Project 2025 establishes a framework for guiding the federal government through a biblical lens. Across nearly 1,000 pages, the mandate pushes an unpopular interpretation of the Christian agenda that would target reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ people and people of color by effectively erasing mention of all related terms, protections and troublesome historical accounts.
Though the mandate accuses the “woke” left of infringing on people’s religious freedoms, its policies are rooted in a singular, extremist view of how society should function based on its authors’ own Christian nationalist values. It repeatedly calls for the punishment, even imprisonment, of people who do not conform to the think tank’s platform.
The proposed policies in Project 2025’s mandate stem from four stated goals. In its words: restoring the family as the centerpiece of American life, dismantling the administrative state, defending the nation’s sovereignty and securing God-given individual rights.
Through a holistic approach to restructuring the government, it would seek to give Trump heightened authority to enact his backers’ platform in every city and state — often encouraging the president to creatively subvert congressional approval.
Read the rest at People Magazine. It’s very detailed.
Speaking of Christian nationalism, ProPublica has an investigative article on a shadowy organization of rich people working to influence the 2024 election. Andy Kroll and Nick Surgey: Inside Ziklag, the Secret Organization of Wealthy Christians Trying to Sway the Election and Change the Country. The subhead reads: “The little-known charity is backed by famous conservative donors, including the families behind Hobby Lobby and Uline. It’s spending millions to make a big political push for this election — but it may be violating the law.”
A network of ultrawealthy Christian donors is spending nearly $12 million to mobilize Republican-leaning voters and purge more than a million people from the rolls in key swing states, aiming to tilt the 2024 election in favor of former President Donald Trump.
These previously unreported plans are the work of a group named Ziklag, a little-known charity whose donors have included some of the wealthiest conservative Christian families in the nation, including the billionaire Uihlein family, who made a fortune in office supplies, the Greens, who run Hobby Lobby, and the Wallers, who own the Jockey apparel corporation. Recipients of Ziklag’s largesse include Alliance Defending Freedom, which is the Christian legal group that led the overturning of Roe v. Wade, plus the national pro-Trump group Turning Point USA and a constellation of right-of-center advocacy groups.
1908
ProPublica and Documented obtained thousands of Ziklag’s members-only email newsletters, internal videos, strategy documents and fundraising pitches, none of which has been previously made public. They reveal the group’s 2024 plans and its long-term goal to underpin every major sphere of influence in American society with Christianity. In the Bible, the city of Ziklag was where David and his soldiers found refuge during their war with King Saul.
“We are in a spiritual battle and locked in a terrible conflict with the powers of darkness,” says a strategy document that lays out Ziklag’s 30-year vision to “redirect the trajectory of American culture toward Christ by bringing back Biblical structure, order and truth to our Nation.”
Ziklag’s 2024 agenda reads like the work of a political organization. It plans to pour money into mobilizing voters in Arizona who are “sympathetic to Republicans” in order to secure “10,640 additional unique votes” — almost the exact margin of President Joe Biden’s win there in 2020. The group also intends to use controversial AI software to enable mass challenges to the eligibility of hundreds of thousands of voters in competitive states.
In a recording of a 2023 internal strategy discussion, a Ziklag official stressed that the objective was the same in other swing states. “The goal is to win,” the official said. “If 75,000 people wins the White House, then how do we get 150,000 people so we make sure we win?”
According to the Ziklag files, the group has divided its 2024 activities into three different operations targeting voters in battleground states: Checkmate, focused on funding so-called election integrity groups; Steeplechase, concentrated on using churches and pastors to get out the vote; and Watchtower, aimed at galvanizing voters around the issues of “parental rights” and opposition to transgender rights and policies supporting health care for trans people.
In a member briefing video, one of Ziklag’s spiritual advisers outlined a plan to “deliver swing states” by using an anti-transgender message to motivate conservative voters who are exhausted with Trump.
But Ziklag is not a political organization: It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charity, the same legal designation as the United Way or Boys and Girls Club. Such organizations do not have to publicly disclose their funders, and donations are tax deductible. In exchange, they are “absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office,” according to the IRS.
Read the whole thing at ProPublica.
In other news, you probably heard that Mark Zuckerberg has bowed down to Trump. Raw Story: ‘So the despotic threats worked?’: Outrage as Facebook lifts limits on Trump’s accounts.
Critics shredded Meta’s decision to ease restrictions placed on former President Donald Trump’s Instagram and Facebook accounts.
Axios reported Friday the social media titan planned to soon roll back limits it placed on Trump’s accounts as it aimed to allow for more parity leading up to the Nov. 5 election. The tech giant said a minor violation could lead to his accounts being suspended up to two years or restricted.
The move comes more than a year after he was reinstated to the platforms but with limits such as suspensions and advertising restrictions for violating company rules.
Stunned social media critics blasted the decision.
“So the despotic threats worked?” asked @JenBaty, pointing to Trump’s threat on Truth Social that the “ZUCKERBUCKS (sic),” a reference to Facebook cofounder Mark Zuckerberg, “will be sent to prison for long periods of time.”
Trump has previously said Zuckerberg “cheated” in the 2020 election.
“Why isn’t he being prosecuted?” he wrote last year. “The Democrats only know how to cheat. America isn’t going to take it much longer!”
A few stories on the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee next week:
AP: Deeply Democratic Milwaukee wrestles with hosting Trump and the Republican National Convention.
Milwaukee loves its Miller Beer, Brewers baseball and “ Bronze Fonz ” statue.
The deepest blue city in swing state Wisconsin, Milwaukee also loves Democrats.
So it can be hard for some to swallow that Milwaukee is playing host to former President Donald Trump and the Republican National Convention this coming week while rival Chicago, the larger city just 90 miles to the south, welcomes President Joe Biden and Democrats in August.
It didn’t help smooth things over with wary Democrats after Trump used the word “horrible” when talking about Milwaukee just a month before the convention that begins Monday.
Adding to the angst, Milwaukee was supposed to host the Democratic National Convention in 2020, but it didn’t happen due to COVID. Owners of local restaurants, bars and venues say the number of reservations that were promised during the RNC aren’t materializing. And protesters complained the city was trying to keep them too far away from the convention site to have an impact.
“I wish I was out of town for it,” Jake Schneider, 29, said as he passed by the city’s statue of Fonzie, the character played by Henry Winkler in the 1970s sitcom “Happy Days” that was set in Milwaukee. “I’m not super happy that it’s the Republican Party coming to town.” [….]
Ryan Clancy, a self-described democratic socialist who is a state representative and serves on the Milwaukee County Board, puts it more bluntly: “It is shameful that we rolled out the red carpet for the RNC.”
Former President Donald Trump will be officially renominated next week to be the Republican Party’s standard-bearer for the third presidential election in a row as he seeks to return to the Oval Office.
GOP delegates from around the country will gather in Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention, with much of the country following along through the primetime speeches each night.
These speeches have historically allowed presidential candidates to unify discord from aggressive primary campaigns, and the conventions offer a high-profile platform to sway undecided voters.
While an official list of speakers hasn’t yet been announced, here are some of the people who’ve reportedly been tapped to demonstrate their support for Trump on stage next week.
The list includes Donald Trump, Jr., Ron DeSantis, Sean O’Brien (Teamsters president), David Sacks (Elon Musk’s pal), Kari Lake, Elise Stefanik, and more. She’s not listed, but I heard that Margery Taylor Green will also speak.
Politico: The unusual legal risk Trump will have to navigate at the RNC.
Donald Trump will be rubbing elbows in Milwaukee with a crowd that may include dozens of witnesses and alleged co-conspirators in his criminal cases — people he has sworn not to communicate with about details of the charges against him.
Avoiding them may not be possible for the former president during the four-day convention, creating an unusual dynamic, and a potential legal liability for Trump, against the backdrop of a national nominating convention.
1911
“If I were a Trump attorney, my biggest fear might be that Trump finds himself in close quarters with a defendant and starts running his mouth off,” said Anthony Kreis, a law professor at Georgia State University.
Several false electors for Trump in 2020 who were charged with crimes in Arizona, Nevada and Georgia are expected to be at the Republican National Convention. In addition, many of Trump’s former White House aides who testified to grand juries in Washington and Florida are likely to be on hand. Though the roster of speakers hasn’t been publicly shared, there’s a high likelihood that others embroiled in Trump’s alleged crimes — a long list of GOP officials and activists — will also be there.
The situation is, like many things associated with Trump, unprecedented, and it’s hard to gauge the likelihood that an interaction in a crowded convention hall could become legally perilous for the former president. But it’s not zero, according to legal experts.
“I imagine the tight scripted nature of the convention will help isolate Trump from that danger,” Kreis said. “But you also never know.”
General attacks on the prosecutions he’s facing in Washington, Florida and Georgia — familiar themes in Trump rallies and speeches — or superficial encounters with people involved in his cases are unlikely to raise prosecutors’ eyebrows. But legal experts say there are lines Trump could cross if he mentions codefendants or witnesses by name or has more substantive interactions with them. And even general remarks, whether scripted or extemporaneous, could present risks if they could be interpreted as pressure on witnesses against cooperation or an attempt to influence their future testimony.
Those are my recommended reads for today. I hope you find something that interests you.
https://skydancingblog.com/2024/07/13/lazy-caturday-reads-170/
#BidenSpeechInDetroit #ChristianNationalism #HeritageFoundation #mainstreamMedia #MarkZukerberg #Meta #Milwaukee #Project2025 #RepublicanNationalConvention2024 #suffragettesAndCats #womenSSuffrage #Ziklag
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The Grand Barbie Lockdown
The dust of the Outback was still settling in the tread of their tires as the 4WD screamed back toward the city skyline. It was late arvo, and the sun was a low, angry orange, mirroring the urgency in the cabin. The Three Best Friends were flat out like a lizard drinking, their laptops open on their laps, tethered to a satellite link that was barely holding on.
Chapter 5: The Grand Barbie Lockdown
“The Raven isn’t just attacking a site,” Dev shouted over the roar of the wind. “They’ve hijacked the ‘Grand Barbie’ event app. Fifty thousand people are trying to register for the raffle, and the interface is carrying on like a pork chop“.
Liam scanned the app’s homepage on his phone. It was a disaster of unnecessarily complex language. The registration instructions looked like a legal manifesto. “It’s a classic Raven move,” Liam growled. “They’re using unnecessarily technical language to confuse people, especially those with cognitive and learning disabilities”.
“Look at the registration form,” Dax added, pointing to a screenshot. “The contrast ratio between the ‘Submit’ button and the background is almost zero. Some people can’t read text if there isn’t sufficient contrast“.
The Battle of the Viewports
As they hit the city limits, the app underwent a “responsive” transformation that was actually a sabotage.
“The Raven is using media queries to break the layout on mobile devices!” Dev yelled. “On a narrow window, like a mobile phone, the primary content is disappearing into a single column that doesn’t scroll properly”.
Dev knew he had to write code that adapts to the user’s technology. He began injecting CSS to ensure the viewport size didn’t clip the content when the font size was increased. He worked to ensure the reading order in the code matched the logical flow, so when users zoomed in to 200%, the “Grand Barbie” map didn’t jump to the bottom of the page.
Meaningful Links and Hidden Traps
They arrived at the park just as the first sausages hit the barbie. Thousands of people were staring at their phones, frustrated.
“The links!” Liam cried out. “The Raven has changed all the navigation links to say ‘Click Here’ or ‘Read More’“. He knew this was ambiguous link text that provided no information for screen reader users like Lakshmi.
Liam began a rapid-fire edit of the app’s CMS. He replaced the generic text with meaningful link text that described the content of the link target.
- “Click Here” became “Register for the Grand Raffle”.
- “Read More” became “View Barbie Safety Guidelines”.
- He even indicated the document type and size for the downloadable park map: “Park Map (PDF, 2MB)”.
The Multimedia Meltdown
On the main stage, the event organizer was giving a live-streamed speech. But the Raven had disabled the captions and transcripts.
“Dhruv and Marta can’t understand the safety announcement!” Dev said, referring to the user stories they lived by. He immediately began routing a live stenography feed into the app’s multimedia container. He ensured the captions included not just the spoken words, but also important sounds like “crowd cheering” to provide a full experience.
The Final Form
The Raven’s last stand was the raffle entry form. It was a gauntlet of unclear instructions and missing labels.
“No dramas, team,” Dax said, taking over the UI override. “I’m associating a label with every form control“. He positioned the labels adjacent to the fields, ensuring they weren’t too far away for users with low vision.
Dev ensured the labels were linked to the ID attributes of the form elements in the code. He also added clear instructions for the date of birth field, describing the required format so users didn’t get stuck in a loop of error messages.
When an error did occur, Liam made sure the error identification was prominent, using an error list, icons, and background color to help users find where the problem was. He provided specific, understandable explanations and suggested corrections
#bloganuary #curiosity #dailyprompt #Evernote #everyday #Facebook #facts #IFTTT #Instagram #Pinterest
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The Grand Barbie Lockdown
The dust of the Outback was still settling in the tread of their tires as the 4WD screamed back toward the city skyline. It was late arvo, and the sun was a low, angry orange, mirroring the urgency in the cabin. The Three Best Friends were flat out like a lizard drinking, their laptops open on their laps, tethered to a satellite link that was barely holding on.
Chapter 5: The Grand Barbie Lockdown
“The Raven isn’t just attacking a site,” Dev shouted over the roar of the wind. “They’ve hijacked the ‘Grand Barbie’ event app. Fifty thousand people are trying to register for the raffle, and the interface is carrying on like a pork chop“.
Liam scanned the app’s homepage on his phone. It was a disaster of unnecessarily complex language. The registration instructions looked like a legal manifesto. “It’s a classic Raven move,” Liam growled. “They’re using unnecessarily technical language to confuse people, especially those with cognitive and learning disabilities”.
“Look at the registration form,” Dax added, pointing to a screenshot. “The contrast ratio between the ‘Submit’ button and the background is almost zero. Some people can’t read text if there isn’t sufficient contrast“.
The Battle of the Viewports
As they hit the city limits, the app underwent a “responsive” transformation that was actually a sabotage.
“The Raven is using media queries to break the layout on mobile devices!” Dev yelled. “On a narrow window, like a mobile phone, the primary content is disappearing into a single column that doesn’t scroll properly”.
Dev knew he had to write code that adapts to the user’s technology. He began injecting CSS to ensure the viewport size didn’t clip the content when the font size was increased. He worked to ensure the reading order in the code matched the logical flow, so when users zoomed in to 200%, the “Grand Barbie” map didn’t jump to the bottom of the page.
Meaningful Links and Hidden Traps
They arrived at the park just as the first sausages hit the barbie. Thousands of people were staring at their phones, frustrated.
“The links!” Liam cried out. “The Raven has changed all the navigation links to say ‘Click Here’ or ‘Read More’“. He knew this was ambiguous link text that provided no information for screen reader users like Lakshmi.
Liam began a rapid-fire edit of the app’s CMS. He replaced the generic text with meaningful link text that described the content of the link target.
- “Click Here” became “Register for the Grand Raffle”.
- “Read More” became “View Barbie Safety Guidelines”.
- He even indicated the document type and size for the downloadable park map: “Park Map (PDF, 2MB)”.
The Multimedia Meltdown
On the main stage, the event organizer was giving a live-streamed speech. But the Raven had disabled the captions and transcripts.
“Dhruv and Marta can’t understand the safety announcement!” Dev said, referring to the user stories they lived by. He immediately began routing a live stenography feed into the app’s multimedia container. He ensured the captions included not just the spoken words, but also important sounds like “crowd cheering” to provide a full experience.
The Final Form
The Raven’s last stand was the raffle entry form. It was a gauntlet of unclear instructions and missing labels.
“No dramas, team,” Dax said, taking over the UI override. “I’m associating a label with every form control“. He positioned the labels adjacent to the fields, ensuring they weren’t too far away for users with low vision.
Dev ensured the labels were linked to the ID attributes of the form elements in the code. He also added clear instructions for the date of birth field, describing the required format so users didn’t get stuck in a loop of error messages.
When an error did occur, Liam made sure the error identification was prominent, using an error list, icons, and background color to help users find where the problem was. He provided specific, understandable explanations and suggested corrections
#bloganuary #curiosity #dailyprompt #Evernote #everyday #Facebook #facts #IFTTT #Instagram #Pinterest
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The Grand Barbie Lockdown
The dust of the Outback was still settling in the tread of their tires as the 4WD screamed back toward the city skyline. It was late arvo, and the sun was a low, angry orange, mirroring the urgency in the cabin. The Three Best Friends were flat out like a lizard drinking, their laptops open on their laps, tethered to a satellite link that was barely holding on.
Chapter 5: The Grand Barbie Lockdown
“The Raven isn’t just attacking a site,” Dev shouted over the roar of the wind. “They’ve hijacked the ‘Grand Barbie’ event app. Fifty thousand people are trying to register for the raffle, and the interface is carrying on like a pork chop“.
Liam scanned the app’s homepage on his phone. It was a disaster of unnecessarily complex language. The registration instructions looked like a legal manifesto. “It’s a classic Raven move,” Liam growled. “They’re using unnecessarily technical language to confuse people, especially those with cognitive and learning disabilities”.
“Look at the registration form,” Dax added, pointing to a screenshot. “The contrast ratio between the ‘Submit’ button and the background is almost zero. Some people can’t read text if there isn’t sufficient contrast“.
The Battle of the Viewports
As they hit the city limits, the app underwent a “responsive” transformation that was actually a sabotage.
“The Raven is using media queries to break the layout on mobile devices!” Dev yelled. “On a narrow window, like a mobile phone, the primary content is disappearing into a single column that doesn’t scroll properly”.
Dev knew he had to write code that adapts to the user’s technology. He began injecting CSS to ensure the viewport size didn’t clip the content when the font size was increased. He worked to ensure the reading order in the code matched the logical flow, so when users zoomed in to 200%, the “Grand Barbie” map didn’t jump to the bottom of the page.
Meaningful Links and Hidden Traps
They arrived at the park just as the first sausages hit the barbie. Thousands of people were staring at their phones, frustrated.
“The links!” Liam cried out. “The Raven has changed all the navigation links to say ‘Click Here’ or ‘Read More’“. He knew this was ambiguous link text that provided no information for screen reader users like Lakshmi.
Liam began a rapid-fire edit of the app’s CMS. He replaced the generic text with meaningful link text that described the content of the link target.
- “Click Here” became “Register for the Grand Raffle”.
- “Read More” became “View Barbie Safety Guidelines”.
- He even indicated the document type and size for the downloadable park map: “Park Map (PDF, 2MB)”.
The Multimedia Meltdown
On the main stage, the event organizer was giving a live-streamed speech. But the Raven had disabled the captions and transcripts.
“Dhruv and Marta can’t understand the safety announcement!” Dev said, referring to the user stories they lived by. He immediately began routing a live stenography feed into the app’s multimedia container. He ensured the captions included not just the spoken words, but also important sounds like “crowd cheering” to provide a full experience.
The Final Form
The Raven’s last stand was the raffle entry form. It was a gauntlet of unclear instructions and missing labels.
“No dramas, team,” Dax said, taking over the UI override. “I’m associating a label with every form control“. He positioned the labels adjacent to the fields, ensuring they weren’t too far away for users with low vision.
Dev ensured the labels were linked to the ID attributes of the form elements in the code. He also added clear instructions for the date of birth field, describing the required format so users didn’t get stuck in a loop of error messages.
When an error did occur, Liam made sure the error identification was prominent, using an error list, icons, and background color to help users find where the problem was. He provided specific, understandable explanations and suggested corrections
#bloganuary #curiosity #dailyprompt #Evernote #everyday #Facebook #facts #IFTTT #Instagram #Pinterest
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Amanda Ungaro-Trump Scandal on Verge of Erupting.
Article republished by Jerry Alatalo | April 11, 2026
(Source: MiamiNewTimes.com)
[Editor’s note: Melania Trump’s recent public statement from the White House has left people asking many questions about the statement’s timing and awkwardness, particularly as the statement came while war in the Middle East threatened to turn into an historic, monumental human catastrophe.
Of the many questions surrounding Melania Trump’s odd public statement, where she distances herself from Jeffrey Epstein, one question has surfaced, come to the forefront at global center stage, – demanding an honest answer: Who is Amanda Ungaro?]
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BREAKING: Is This Deported Model the Reason Melania Distanced Herself From Epstein?
Amanda Ungaro, a onetime friend of Trump, went on an online tirade against the First Lady this week.
By Natasha Yee April 10, 2026
On Thursday afternoon, First Lady Melania Trump addressed the nation in a six-minute-long speech.
“The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today. The individuals lying about me are devoid of ethical standards, humility, and respect,” she began. She went on to deliver a meandering account, distancing herself from the convicted sex offender.
At 9 p.m. Wednesday, prior to Melania’s speech, an account that appears to belong to Amanda Ungaro, a Brazilian former model who resided in the United States for 23 years prior to being deported by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in June 2025, posted a message to former U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
“Are you already aware of the situation?” she wrote. “Do you fully understand the extent of the information I possess regarding you and the individuals associated with you? I strongly advise you to consider the seriousness of these matters. Any actions taken against me or attempts to escalate this situation could have significant legal consequences,” Ungaro continued.
“I expect this to be handled with the appropriate level of responsibility and professionalism moving forward.” The post was accompanied by four photos, including what appears to be a young Ungaro holding a baby.
@PamBondi Are you already aware of the situation?
Do you fully understand the extent of the information I possess regarding you and the individuals associated with you?I strongly advise you to consider the seriousness of these matters. Any actions taken against me or attempts… pic.twitter.com/jB2rM8dRUF
— Amanda Ungaro (@AmandaUngaroA) April 9, 2026
In the summer of 2025, amid President Donald Trump’s stern immigration crackdown, Ungaro, arrested on charges of fraud at the medical spa where she worked, sat in jail. Like many immigrants, she was then placed in ICE custody and deported from Miami back to her native Brazil. But what, from the outside, appeared to be a routine removal procedure under the Trump administration has quite the back story.
Paolo Zampolli, an Italian former modeling agent turned presidential special envoy, had asked ICE to detain Ungaro, his ex-girlfriend, amid an ongoing custody battle over their child, the New York Times reported in March. Zampolli’s relationship with the president, according to a caption on his Instagram, has endured for over 30 years.
“Mr. Zampolli, 56, is known in Washington for flaunting his proximity to the Trumps,” the Times story reads. “In this case, he used his clout to solicit help from an agency beset by allegations of unlawful overreach.”
Ungaro arrived in New York in 2002 when she was 17. According to the Times, she traveled on Jeffrey Epstein’s private plane from Paris with her agent, and later said she never saw Epstein again. That same year, she met Zampolli, then 32, at a Manhattan nightclub, where he recruited her as a modeling client, encouraged her to move to the U.S., and began a relationship she said lasted two decades (Zampolli has said it began when she was 19).
She recalled the plane ride in a March interview with the Rio de Janeiro-based Brazilian daily newspaper O Globo.
“There were about 30 girls on the plane. I found it very strange,” Ungaro said. “They looked more like students than models — beautiful and very young, but not with a model profile.”
The two were fixtures in elite social circles as Zampolli built connections with figures including former President Bill Clinton and businessman Ron Burkle, but one of his closest and most lasting ties was with the Trump family.
A separate New York Times story published in August 2016 states that Zampolli “discovered the Slovene [Melania] 20 years ago in Milan.” The story is titled, “When Donald Met Melania, Paolo Was There.”
The O Globo story reads, “Ungaro described Zampolli as embodying a lifestyle that resonated with Trump’s circle: daily lunches at Cipriani in New York, lavish birthday parties — at times featuring exotic animals such as tiger cubs — and a social orbit filled with models, champagne, and tabloid attention.”
But after years of lavish parties amid elite social circles, Zampolli and Ungaro parted ways. Ungaro described her sudden removal from the U.S., where she lived from 2002 until her 2025 deportation, to the Rio de Janeiro-based publication.
“They came in at six in the morning, pulled me into the hallway in my pajamas, with my face turned to the wall, and took our passports,” she told the paper. “They handcuffed me and my husband in front of my son, who was also taken to the station because he is a minor and I had no one to leave him with.”
She also spoke of her 19-year relationship with Zampolli, describing how the Italian businessman brought her to parties hosted by music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, who is serving a four-year sentence for transporting women for prostitution, and to yacht parties with celebrities and European royalty, where he “often brought his own waiter to ensure no one tampered with his drinks.”
“When Trump won in 2016, Paolo acted like he had been elected, too,” Ungaro told O Globo. “We were suddenly invited everywhere. At New Year’s parties at Mar-a-Lago, we and one other couple were the only ones at the table with Trump and Melania.”
Zampolli did not respond to a request for comment via social media by the time of this reporting.
And Ungaro didn’t mince words with Melania on X, either. Responding to a video of the First Lady bidding farewell to the nation at the conclusion of Trump’s first term, she wrote, “Until you fall as a little chicken.”
Until you fall as a little chicken
— Amanda Ungaro (@AmandaUngaroA) April 9, 2026
“Will take legal action against you and your pedophile husband,” she wrote in another post a few minutes earlier. “I have known you for 20 years. You knew I was detained in ICE. You were present in my life — every year on my son’s birthday, even sending Secret Service and being the first to congratulate him, back in 2016.
“Something was clearly wrong, but I am not part of any evil mission involving children. So what did you do, Melania? You tried to involve me, but you failed — because I have character.”
Ungaro did not respond to a request for comment via social media by the time of this reporting.
Melania, during her address, said that she was not friendly with Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently facing 20 years in prison for conspiring with Epstein to sexually abuse minors.
“I’ve never been friends with Epstein. Donald and I were invited to the same parties as Epstein from time to time, since overlapping in social circles is common in New York City and Palm Beach, she continued. “To be clear, I never had a relationship with Epstein or his accomplice, Maxwell.”
But Department of Justice documents revealed as part of the Epstein Transparency Act appear to tell a different story.
“How are you?” Melania writes to Maxwell in an October 2022 email. “Nice story about JE in NY mag. You look great on the picture. I know you are very busy flying all over the world. How was Palm Beach? I cannot wait to go down. Give me a call when you are back in NY. Have a great time!
Love, Melania”Ungaro, who says she holds information about the Trumps, shows no sign of backing down.
“I will tear down your corrupt system, even if it’s the last thing I do in my life. I will go all the way—I am not afraid,” she wrote to the First Lady on X. “Maybe you should be afraid of what I know… of who you are, and who your husband is.”
I will tear down your corrupt system, even if it’s the last thing I do in my life. I will go all the way—I am not afraid.
Maybe you should be afraid of what I know… of who you are, and who your husband is.— Amanda Ungaro (@AmandaUngaroA) April 9, 2026
The White House did not immediately return a request for comment via its press page.
Natasha Yee is news editor at Miami New Times. Prior to joining the team in December 2024, Natasha was an investigative journalist at the Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting and a staff writer at Phoenix New Times. Before that, she worked as a high school English teacher in an urban school district. She holds a master’s degree from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University.
#AmandaUngaro #DonaldTrump #Florida #GhislaineMaxwell #Iran #JeffreyEpstein #MelaniaTrump #Miami -
It’s been a minute! I was on vacation and travelled to visit family. I had the best intentions to keep up with my gaming streak but very quickly noticed that I wouldn’t do anything else if I played video games like I normally do. I enjoyed the change of pace and being with family I haven’t seen in a while. We took walks in historical places, went to museums and churches, ate good food and talked about everything we could think of. We also got our share of family drama, but all things considered, I enjoyed my time very, very much.
Between reading, doing crochet, and playing with gorgeous family cats, I found some moments where I could play a little bit of Persona 4 Golden. I’m still reading The House in Fata Morgana, but I think my enthusiasm ended at the end of the main game. A Requiem for Innocence had some interesting, even exciting story arcs, but Resurrection is a slog and so unnecessary. When I’m reading it I feel like I should be doing something else, however I can’t put down something that I’ve already started. It’s just that I don’t really need to know the backstories of everyone involved in the main game when the information is already available there. I don’t need to know their futures either because it deletes the uncertainty that made the ending of the main game so meaningful.
On another note, it isn’t surprising that I’m enjoying Persona 4 Golden as much as I am. It’s the Atlus effect! Their games are good and appeal to me with no effort. I don’t care if it’s high schoolers again fighting against some sinister power because the characters, their portraits, the art, the story, the gameplay, are just pure top tier goodness. I think the story and atmosphere in Persona 3 Reload is more up my alley though. The green fog, the corrupted minds, the certainty of the end of days, the messiah that will save us all – it’s in fact a very familiar story in the sense that it conveys a positive message of love, sacrifice and, ultimately, physical and spiritual endurance. That group of friends goes through everything imaginable to save what they believe in, their connections, the love between each other, and the world at large.
One of my favourite scenes so far in Persona 4 GoldenPersona 4 Golden is a bit more chill in the story aspect, at least so far. I don’t believe there isn’t any higher power at work, good or bad. Is there in fact any Persona game that doesn’t make us question our beliefs and drives us through hell to make us see the significance of everything around us? It’s the little things, man. The story is more like a thriller – a set of mysterious murders and disappearances in the city of Inaba connected to antennas and the TV. Bodies are found dangling from antennas, people disappear from the world and end up inside a TV program that broadcasts on rainy nights. We soon discover that we can literally enter the TV and save people there before it’s too late.
The main story is focused on the investigation aspect. The Velvet room’s existence feels even more mysterious with the presence of Maria and her dry sense of humour. I haven’t explored Margaret’s social link yet to see if there’s more than a list of boring persona fusions I won’t ever use. Then there’s loads of other social links, all significantly impacting the power of our fused personas. The core group we play with is positively affected in battle the higher our social link is. I’ve been focusing mostly on the party we play with and the characters we can interact with at night.
Persona 4 Golden is the best version of the game there is, but it isn’t a remake like Reload with all the quality of life features these remakes have been spoiling us with. I think the game is perfectly fine, but I can’t say I feel like I’m being as efficient in my time management as I was in Reload. Most of the time I have no idea about what I can do on certain days. I often feel like I’m wasting time in activities like fishing. Fishing makes time pass as well as maintaining the garden, but catching bugs doesn’t. It’s confusing. This is where the voice feature comes in. It’s a feature that lets us see what other players did during the day we’re in. I use it to get some clues about which people are available that day to hang out, and it’s also useful to see what activities got the bigger number of participants. For a first playthrough, it beats having a guide with me at all times.
Eating watermelonAfter about 30 hours of gameplay, I still don’t have a clue about what’s going on and most likely I’m not supposed to. I believe I stopped playing at the time when I got all the clues about Naoto and I’m ready to step into his dungeon. I haven’t been in the mood for dungeon crawling these days, so I took a little break from the game. Persona games slowly build up and I kind of enjoy the pace. Since this time I’m playing the game in shorter sessions I’m not following the story so thoroughly.
I’ve mentioned on Mastodon how uncomfortable I feel with Yosuke’s homophobia. I don’t want to dwell on it because most people know it’s wrong and unacceptable. I think, however, that situations like the tent scene are all too common among younger and even older people, and still should be represented in video games. I’m not for censuring older games because of their unfortunate takes, but I’d like to have had some agency as a player to tell Yosuke that his masculinity is not at risk by sharing the same tent with a colleague because he’s gay or bisexual.
I know that all this can be seen as good fun and extremely natural interactions between young boys. Besides, I’m far from the intended audience for this game, but since I’m playing it, allow me to express some disbelief and disappointment. I enjoyed Yosuke’s character from the start. He’s the less stupid sidekick I had the pleasure to know and yet later he presents himself as the main sexist and homophobic from the group. I don’t know why I’m so shocked since almost every boy in my class in the 90s was Yosuke. I don’t know how things are between people from that age group today but I guess we’ve come a long way since then.
On another note, the game is beautiful to look at and it shines with the little stories for every social link. Chie and Marie are two of my favourite characters and I find Hisano and the nurse very intriguing and a bit creepy. The other social links that I’m more engaged with are Dojima and Nanako, who’s struggling with immense solitude. I’m still expecting some weird twists in the main story but I haven’t run into any major events yet. Everything happening in the margins has been so satisfying that I don’t feel any need to rush things.
Overall my experience with the game has been very positive and my level of enjoyment is on par with Persona 3 Reload. Both experiences are very distinct from each other, even when sharing the same Megami Tensei universe. I’m really enjoying these games, what sets them apart and what connects them in a broader sense. It’s not a dull franchise where everything looks the same and feels the same, just with better coat of paint. As soon as I get back into my routine I’ll spend some afternoons with this great cast of characters.
https://swordofseiros.wordpress.com/2024/05/23/into-the-tv/
#atlus #Games #gaming #jrpgs #megamiTensei #megaten #nintendoSwitch #persona #persona3Reload #persona4Golden #theHouseInFataMorgana #velvetRoom #videoGames #videogames #visualNovels
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Faith, Fiction, & Fairytales @faithfictionandfairytales.wordpress.com@faithfictionandfairytales.wordpress.com ·Takeover + Review Blitz: The Hidden Key of Brooke Sumner by Susan L. Tuttle
Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for The Hidden Key of Brooke Sumner by Susan L. Tuttle, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About the Book
Title: The Hidden Key of Brooke Sumner
Series: Treasures of Halstead Manor #3
Author: Susan L. Tuttle
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Release Date: March 24, 2026
Genre: Mystery & Suspense / RomanceWill the key unlock more than a vault filled with treasure?
Brooke Sumner has been carefully avoiding Storm Whitlock ever since he betrayed her trust. When he joins Caspar’s mysterious treasure-hunting group, she steps away to focus on her antique shop and keep herself busy.
Then Caspar invites her back for one final assignment, and Brooke is torn. Returning to Halstead Manor to help the team find the second half of a key is intriguing. It also means she’d be working with Storm. But she doesn’t trust his motives, so she reluctantly rejoins to keep him in check.
As they dive into their expedition, Brooke finds her heart softening toward those she’d once held at arm’s length. And is it possible she misunderstood Storm’s betrayal of their friendship?“In this friends-to-more romance, we get to see the beauty of being known, being loved, and finding the people who want to walk alongside us.” —Toni Shiloh, Christy Award-winning author
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Kregel Publications | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | BookBub | Bookshop
More Books from this Series:
About the Author
Susan L. Tuttle is a pastor’s wife, mom, and the director of women’s ministry at her church near Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her previous writing includes The Rare Jewel of Everleigh Wheaton, The Novel Adventures of Natalie Daughtry, the Along Came Love series, and the Carol Award–finalist Love You, Truly.
Connect with Susan by visiting SusanLTuttle.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.
My Review
The Hidden Key of Brooke Sumner brings the Treasures of Halstead Manor series to a thrilling conclusion, once again taking Everleigh, Natalie, Brooke, and their entourage on a mind-bending adventure (which I’ll admit I struggled to keep up with at times). Tuttle capitalizes on found family, bodyguard, and friends to enemies to more tropes in this finale, and she held my attention from the opening pages.
Contentious as it was, I loved Storm and Brooke’s relationship and all their banter. The foundation of their childhood friendship shone through in every encounter, and I loved reading about all the ways they came through for each other as children. I will admit I was annoyed that Storm couldn’t reveal everything to Brooke until near the end of the book, but it was necessary to the plot, I suppose.
Tuttle is NOT easy on her characters. The stakes were high from page one, both for Brooke and for Storm in his own issue. Watching Brooke navigate her pain was hard at times, and I wish the faith content could have been a bit more consistent throughout–the end revelation felt a bit too neat and pretty. I liked the message that we can have peace through the storms of life when we put our trust in Jesus, but I don’t think it’s always quite so easy as simply making a choice. It’s a daily battle.
I liked the look at how the foster care system can adversely impact kiddos, especially if they’re passed from home to home and never adopted. As for the romance, the romantic tension between Brooke and Storm felt a bit excessive at times, and Storm really played into it, but I guess their friendship made it feel less bothersome than it otherwise might have been.
It was exciting to finally discover more of Caspar’s story, and the ending was shocking–it definitely tied up some loose threads I’ve been wondering about through the book and series. Overall a satisfactory read, and much cleaner than book 2 (I wasn’t comfortable with fade-to-black between a married couple, which might be fine for others!)
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive a copy of The Hidden Key of Brooke Sumner and $20 Amazon gift card!
Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight April 15, 2026 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on April 22, 2026. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
Go check out The Ultimate Blindside!
Leave a like if this post was helpful, and subscribe to receive future posts to your inbox!
#author #BlogTour #books #ChristianBooks #ChristianFiction #JustReadTours #mystery #ReviewTour #SusanLTuttle #TheHiddenKeyOfBrookeSumner #TreasuresOfHalsteadManor -
Hello, encryption enthusiasts! The National Security Agency (NSA) is thrilled to introduce our latest innovation in secure communication: ROT15, the revolutionary encryption algorithm that takes encryption to a whole new level! Get ready to dive into the world of advanced cryptography because we're about to unveil a game-changer. 🛡️🔢💻
ROT15, now 2 better than ROT13, is here to revolutionize the encryption game and keep your sensitive information locked away from prying eyes. With ROT15, we've taken the tried and true ROT13 and cranked it up a notch, adding an extra layer of security and sophistication.
You might be wondering, what makes ROT15 so special? Well, brace yourself for this mind-blowing revelation: ROT15 doesn't just rotate the alphabet by 13 positions like its predecessor, ROT13. Oh no, we've gone the extra mile and pushed the limits by rotating the alphabet by a staggering 15 positions!
This means that your messages, once encrypted with ROT15, are protected by an extra layer of complexity, making it even harder for would-be eavesdroppers to crack the code. Your secrets will remain safe and sound, tucked away behind the impenetrable walls of ROT15 encryption.
We understand that security is paramount in today's digital landscape, and ROT15 offers you the peace of mind you deserve. Rest assured, our expert cryptographers have rigorously tested ROT15 to ensure its robustness against various cryptographic attacks. Your information is in good hands!
So, whether you're a government agency, a business, or an individual looking to secure your communications, look no further than ROT15—the new gold standard in encryption. With ROT15, your data will be protected by an algorithm that's now 2 better than ROT13, providing you with that extra edge in the ever-evolving battle for digital security.
Embrace the power of ROT15, the next step in the encryption revolution! Your secrets deserve the best, and with ROT15, you'll be ahead of the game.
#NSA #ROT15 #EncryptionRevolution #DigitalSecurity #RobustProtection #StayAhead #Cryptography #InformationSecurity #InnovationInEncryption #NextLevelEncryption #SecureCommunications -
Hello, encryption enthusiasts! The National Security Agency (NSA) is thrilled to introduce our latest innovation in secure communication: ROT15, the revolutionary encryption algorithm that takes encryption to a whole new level! Get ready to dive into the world of advanced cryptography because we're about to unveil a game-changer. 🛡️🔢💻
ROT15, now 2 better than ROT13, is here to revolutionize the encryption game and keep your sensitive information locked away from prying eyes. With ROT15, we've taken the tried and true ROT13 and cranked it up a notch, adding an extra layer of security and sophistication.
You might be wondering, what makes ROT15 so special? Well, brace yourself for this mind-blowing revelation: ROT15 doesn't just rotate the alphabet by 13 positions like its predecessor, ROT13. Oh no, we've gone the extra mile and pushed the limits by rotating the alphabet by a staggering 15 positions!
This means that your messages, once encrypted with ROT15, are protected by an extra layer of complexity, making it even harder for would-be eavesdroppers to crack the code. Your secrets will remain safe and sound, tucked away behind the impenetrable walls of ROT15 encryption.
We understand that security is paramount in today's digital landscape, and ROT15 offers you the peace of mind you deserve. Rest assured, our expert cryptographers have rigorously tested ROT15 to ensure its robustness against various cryptographic attacks. Your information is in good hands!
So, whether you're a government agency, a business, or an individual looking to secure your communications, look no further than ROT15—the new gold standard in encryption. With ROT15, your data will be protected by an algorithm that's now 2 better than ROT13, providing you with that extra edge in the ever-evolving battle for digital security.
Embrace the power of ROT15, the next step in the encryption revolution! Your secrets deserve the best, and with ROT15, you'll be ahead of the game.
#NSA #ROT15 #EncryptionRevolution #DigitalSecurity #RobustProtection #StayAhead #Cryptography #InformationSecurity #InnovationInEncryption #NextLevelEncryption #SecureCommunications -
Hello, encryption enthusiasts! The National Security Agency (NSA) is thrilled to introduce our latest innovation in secure communication: ROT15, the revolutionary encryption algorithm that takes encryption to a whole new level! Get ready to dive into the world of advanced cryptography because we're about to unveil a game-changer. 🛡️🔢💻
ROT15, now 2 better than ROT13, is here to revolutionize the encryption game and keep your sensitive information locked away from prying eyes. With ROT15, we've taken the tried and true ROT13 and cranked it up a notch, adding an extra layer of security and sophistication.
You might be wondering, what makes ROT15 so special? Well, brace yourself for this mind-blowing revelation: ROT15 doesn't just rotate the alphabet by 13 positions like its predecessor, ROT13. Oh no, we've gone the extra mile and pushed the limits by rotating the alphabet by a staggering 15 positions!
This means that your messages, once encrypted with ROT15, are protected by an extra layer of complexity, making it even harder for would-be eavesdroppers to crack the code. Your secrets will remain safe and sound, tucked away behind the impenetrable walls of ROT15 encryption.
We understand that security is paramount in today's digital landscape, and ROT15 offers you the peace of mind you deserve. Rest assured, our expert cryptographers have rigorously tested ROT15 to ensure its robustness against various cryptographic attacks. Your information is in good hands!
So, whether you're a government agency, a business, or an individual looking to secure your communications, look no further than ROT15—the new gold standard in encryption. With ROT15, your data will be protected by an algorithm that's now 2 better than ROT13, providing you with that extra edge in the ever-evolving battle for digital security.
Embrace the power of ROT15, the next step in the encryption revolution! Your secrets deserve the best, and with ROT15, you'll be ahead of the game.
#NSA #ROT15 #EncryptionRevolution #DigitalSecurity #RobustProtection #StayAhead #Cryptography #InformationSecurity #InnovationInEncryption #NextLevelEncryption #SecureCommunications -
@amazing_undercover Yeah, I don’t know what to do other than post up in Masto & Bsky, crosspost in both places as well as my old Twitter account, & wait for some sort of critical mass to be reached. But I desperately want to just stop posting at TwiX. Still so much ugliness there. Doing so means I’ll have barely any followers & no interactions on my posts. It would be back to posting message-in-a-bottle style & sitting on my island w/binoculars. #XYourselfOut #Twitter #TwitterX #TwitterXtinction
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💡 Ever feel like your thoughts are bottled up?
Message in a Decanter by Rafael Salazar captures that golden moment of solitude where imagination becomes liquid truth. 🍷🌊https://rafaelsalazar.com/featured/message-in-a-decanter-rafael-salazar.html
#SurrealArt #GlassDreams #buyintoart #artmatters #fineartamerica #fediverse #fediart #fedigiftshop #mastoart #mastodon #mastoartist #flipboard #RafaelSalazar #ContemporaryArt @Flipboard
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💡 Ever feel like your thoughts are bottled up?
Message in a Decanter by Rafael Salazar captures that golden moment of solitude where imagination becomes liquid truth. 🍷🌊https://rafaelsalazar.com/featured/message-in-a-decanter-rafael-salazar.html
#SurrealArt #GlassDreams #buyintoart #artmatters #fineartamerica #fediverse #fediart #fedigiftshop #mastoart #mastodon #mastoartist #flipboard #RafaelSalazar #ContemporaryArt @Flipboard
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💡 Ever feel like your thoughts are bottled up?
Message in a Decanter by Rafael Salazar captures that golden moment of solitude where imagination becomes liquid truth. 🍷🌊https://rafaelsalazar.com/featured/message-in-a-decanter-rafael-salazar.html
#SurrealArt #GlassDreams #buyintoart #artmatters #fineartamerica #fediverse #fediart #fedigiftshop #mastoart #mastodon #mastoartist #flipboard #RafaelSalazar #ContemporaryArt @Flipboard
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💡 Ever feel like your thoughts are bottled up?
Message in a Decanter by Rafael Salazar captures that golden moment of solitude where imagination becomes liquid truth. 🍷🌊https://rafaelsalazar.com/featured/message-in-a-decanter-rafael-salazar.html
#SurrealArt #GlassDreams #buyintoart #artmatters #fineartamerica #fediverse #fediart #fedigiftshop #mastoart #mastodon #mastoartist #flipboard #RafaelSalazar #ContemporaryArt @Flipboard
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5 Christian Films of 2026
I’ve been neglecting my movie viewers and for that am apologizing. Working on a movie script and wrapping up my next book! Got a lot going on. So here are the top 5 Christian Films of 2026. To all of my movie watchers… Hope you find something inspiring and uplifting. Blessings and Peace!
In honor of America’s 250th anniversary, A GREAT AWAKENING tells the true story of an unlikely friendship that resulted in one of the most defining moments in American history.
With the colonies on the brink of collapse, the Reverend George Whitefield sparks the first Great Awakening, uniting an entire generation with his thundering proclamation of liberty in Christ. In a miraculous turn of events, one of Whitefield’s closest friends and greatest promoters becomes none other than Benjamin Franklin. With the nation’s freedom hanging in the balance, Franklin discovers true liberty cannot only be written into law – it must be awakened in the hearts of the people. At a neighborhood theatre near you. If you want to watch A Great Awakening at home, you’ll have to wait for the film to be available to buy or rent on digital platforms.
2. Soul On Fire
A 2025 American biographical drama film about John O’Leary, a real-life St. Louis native who survived fire burns which covered his entire body. Based on a true story, in 1987, nine-year-old John was playing with matches and gasoline in his garage, mimicking older boys. Doctors gave him a 1% chance to live. He endured severe pain and was asked by his mother if he wanted to die or live; he chose to live. His recovery was supported by his family, community, and notable figures, including sports broadcaster Jack Buck, who encouraged him in the hospital. A massive explosion occurred, causing burns over 100% of his body. Due to third-degree burns, he lost all his fingers. He spent years hiding his scars, but eventually embraced his experience to become a, author of On Fire and a speaker, focusing on transforming pain into purpose. It was released on 2025 and is 1h 52m. Is rated PG. Can be seen on Amazon Prime, Google Play Movies from $5.99 and Netflix.
From a true story. On Easter Sunday 2009, Doug White, a 56-year-old pharmacist, his wife, and their two daughters return to Archibald, Louisiana, after attending a funeral for White’s brother. Less than 10 minutes after their King Air 200 private plane (registered N559DW but mainly using the abbreviated callsign “niner delta whisky”) takes off from Marco Island, Florida, the pilot dies of a heart attack. Fort Myers air traffic controllers and a flight instructor from Danbury, Connecticut, manage to teach Doug how to fly the plane and land it while the family, who attend a Church of Christ, pray for a miracle. It was released on 2023 and is 1hr 42m. I rated PG. Can be seen on Amazon Prime, Apple TV for $14.99, Fandango At Home for $14.99, Google Play Movies for $14.99, Roku, Tubi for Free, YouTube for Free, and YouTube with a Subscription.
4. David A Battle For The Soul Of A Kingdom
In Bethlehem, David is a young musician who tends his father Jesse‘s flock of sheep. After protecting the flock from an Asian lion, David is called before Prophet Samuel, who anoints him as the future King of Israel. Samuel leaves when palace guards arrive to retrieve David to play the lyre for King Saul. David soothes Saul, who has become troubled as God has rejected him as king. Saul is alerted when the Philistine army, led by King Achish, have arrived to battle the Israelite army. In the Valley of Elah, the Philistines bring forth their champion, Goliath, a nine-foot giant. Goliath taunts Saul, his son Jonathan, and the Israelites to summon a worthy challenger. Firm in his faith in God, David decides to challenge Goliath. David retrieves smooth stones from a nearby riverbank and challenges Goliath to a fight, in which he kills Goliath slinging a stone to his forehead. Inspired by David’s victory, the Israelites defeat the Philistine army. It was released in 2025 is 1h 49m. Is rated PG. Can be seen on Angel.com, Amazon Prime Video to rent or purchase, Apple TV & Fandango at Home for purchase.
Just before her first day of school, Internet sleuth Dot got a cryptic call from her father, claiming he didn’t have much time and needed her help. Since that call, he’s stopped responding to any of her texts.The distressing call eats at Dot as she tries to get through her first (not-so-good) day of school. But she also knows why her father would call her for help: She’s a webtective, someone who scours the Internet in search of leads to answer all of her questions. And when an anonymous account messages Dot one such lead, it isn’t long before she’s on the case.And as Dot, along with trusty friends Makayla and Alex, unravel this mystery, they’ll find both Scripture and danger alike connected to the adventure. It was released in 2025 and is 1h 25m and rated PG. Can be seen on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV from $4.99, Fandango at Home from $3.99, Google Play Movies from $3.99, Sling TV with subscription, The Roku Channel for free, Sling TV with subscription, Tubi for free, YouTube for free, and YouTube with subscription.
Here as some new movies that you’ll find interesting for family movie nights. Hope you enjoy. Thank you for your continued readership and support. Blessings and Peace!
© Rhema International 2024. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Rhema International.
#BenjaminFranklin #GeorgeWhitefield #AGreatAwakening #ChristianMovieReviews #ChristianMovies #DavidABattleForTheSoulOfAKingdom #DotConnerWebtective #JohnOLeary #MovieReviews #OnAWingAndAPrayer #SoulOnFire -
The Police · Message in a Bottle Synchronicity Concert [1983] #ChattrbxJukebx https://youtu.be/Ki97mpo6Y_Y?si=DEz23fPAPO96uRxj
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Yolo (movie review)
Many people think that Le Ying is a loser. She’s very overweight, still living with her parents, doesn’t have a proper job, and is a doormat in almost every relationship in her life. One day, she gets into a huge fight with her sister, and leaves home to seek an independent life.
After a series of disappointments, she decides to train to become a boxer – even when everyone is laughing at her for even trying.
My thoughts
Some of the criticisms levelled at Yolo is that it’s not very funny.
Well, if you expect it to be a laugh-out-loud comedy, you’ll be sorely disappointed.
This movie is a character study of a woman who has spent most of her life pleasing or giving in to others and denying her true feelings and desires, in the faint hope that they would finally love her in return.
Somehow, subconsciously, she knew that this approach to life was the wrong one, but do not know how to live life another way. So, she mentally gives up on life … she overeats to comfort herself and doesn’t even bother to try better herself because all her efforts had been in vain before, so why bother?
When she endures a betrayal, she decides to change her life. However, because she did not change the way she approached life, she ended up in a worse place that she had been.
And this was the last straw. For the first time, she wanted to fight and not give up. Now the last three words is very crucial – it’s not about winning, it’s about not giving up on herself.
This movie beautifully shows you how she moves on from being a person who didn’t think she was important enough to fight for, to someone who who fights tooth and nail for herself – to do something that everyone said she could not.
That final battle in the ring was very important because she wanted not to just prove to herself that she could last till the end, but not give up on herself.
So, Yolo may not be the exciting comedic romp that some people want, nor does it follow the “ugly duckling becomes swan” trope, but it has an important message. If you live your life by cutting up pieces of yourself to please others in the tiny hope they will love you or appreciate you eventually, that’s the wrong approach.
Instead, always believe in yourself even if people say it’s impossible; never give up on yourself. In the end, you should not snuff out your desires or dreams so that others can live their dreams – it’s important for you to pursue yours too.
A beautiful movie, but you need to look deeper beyond the surface of “fat girl finally becomes pretty”.
Rating: 4 out of 5
#4Stars #China #ChineseDrama #ChineseMovie #ChineseMovies #Movie #Movies #yolo
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A new battle of faith is being driven by some pastors and politicians in the United States.
Their central message is that the country's conservative Christian way of life is under threat, and American society is moving in the wrong direction.
The BBC’s Barbara Plett Usher explores the impact of this growing movement on US politics.
#UK view of #USpol #christofascism #altright #religiousfascism
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnG-BI98-_0&list=TLPQMDMxMjIwMjJg18L7h6G_3g&index=4
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"After Assata"
Assata said, “I’m tired of bulletins. I want bullets.”
Assata said, “Tears fallen and bodies dropped, blood shed. Fuck the high road. When they go low, instead, knee ’em in the face, sprawl lower. Take their back, wrap the neck, fuck a tap out, listen for the snap. Put your ballot in the barrel of the gun, overnight express, direct action shipping. Paint the city streets with the bodies of little piggies, spelling, ‘I can’t breathe’ and say, ‘Look, see, told you stop resisting. Didn’t listen, your body’s glistening, lilac over your velvet blues, families, confused, thinking, ‘why him?’ like they’re better than you. Well, better them than you. Let a piggy disrespect, and I’ll gladly shoot. Fascist ain’t bulletproof. To protect and serve ’em up, like fried bacon, crispy.”
None for me, though, that swine’s haram.
Burnt piggies only entice me when I light a message in a bottle and make ’em catch it like a hollow, burning through like zombie tips.
Painting, blue pigs, orange and red, like the sweetest sunset, the best the man can get, close to what the Creator projects at dawn.
Back to where I begun.
Where it all came from.
I’m tired of running from bullets and later posting bulletins, like Assata said, “I want — “https://malikspeaks.noblogs.org/post/2025/10/05/after-assata/
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I wrote an article about Barbie after an interview with psychiatrist/cultural theorist Dr. Jeanne Randolph for the #MedicalPost/#CanadianHealthcare Network. It's free for #doctors, #pharmacists in #Canada. But here are few salient paragraphs.
"Dr. Randolph is both a #psychiatrist and a cultural theorist who uses a psychoanalytic lens when looking at icons such as Barbie. Studying #Barbie provokes questions about toys' contribution to the #health and ethics in #kids.
Indeed, back in the 1990s, she wrote a chapter for a book, Consuming Fashions: Adorning the Trans-National Body, that included details of a small study she conducted investigating how girls treated their Barbie dolls. The book itself included historical psychological and anthropological aspects of fashion.
What she found in wasn’t pretty.
Indeed, it was common for girls to cut off Barbie’s hair, paint them, poke or burn holes in them, twist their head around backwards, remove limbs, or even swap their head with other dolls.
But, she told the Medical Post, it's healthy for young kids to express aggressive or sadistic behaviours through their toys. It helps them cope with, and understand, their aggression in the long run—better than keeping it all bottled up and having it expressed in something real.
One moment, Barbie is a super model, an ideal parent or a brilliant astronaut, the next she might be beating up other toys, joining a biker gang, or holding up banks. Young kids learn about themselves and the world around them through play, she said.
For a long time, Barbie was marketed with an image of femininity that was devoid of aggression.
Barbie represented a huge cultural shift when she was first introduced in 1959. Prior to that, girls were given dolls that looked like babies, making their play limited to that as moms or caregivers—a fact the new movie points out.
Barbie was the first adult doll girls could identify with, Dr. Randolph said. They could expand the roles they played—except she was presented an exaggerated version of some idealized female form with her tall, slender proportions.
“In a way, Barbie was asking for it. It’s like the Barbie doll is so perfect, so unrealistic that she incited children to resent her or to be anxious because she’s not real,” she said. Hence some of the destructive behaviour.
Yet doing things like removing a Barbie’s head doesn’t mean a child will grow up a sociopath. Often, it’s just because the heads are easy to remove, and more of an exploration of how things work.
When she wrote about Barbie for that book chapter in the 1990s, Dr. Randolph wanted to include a picture of the doll. She looked for an advertising image that showed some aggression in Barbie, but the best she could find was an image of a fishing Barbie holding a large, plastic dead fish. The fish had a smile on it.
She wrote the toy company that produced Barbie for permission to use the image.
“I got a letter back from Mattel’s lawyers. They had read my chapter all about sadism and about how Barbie is asking for it, the doll is too perfect. They said I should seek legal council. They said they entirely rejected the negativity of this chapter and that Barbie is a valuable product which they did not want to be seen in this light,” she said.
There was always a disconnect between how Barbie was marketed and how little girls played with her.
The chapter was published, and the letter from Mattel was included in its entirety in a footnote.
However, the new Barbie movie showed a turnabout in recognition of the dichotomy Barbie represents. It acknowledged the imaginary, perfect world Barbie comes from, the cultural impact of Barbie dolls, that in real-life Barbies are mistreated, that many kids have cynical attitudes about Barbie, and also that some people love her.
“The movie is exactly what you would hope for in terms of the image and the humanity of women,” she said. The #feminist messages are strong, with powerful satirical punch towards #patriarchy."
For those with accounts, the story can be accessed here.
#medmastodon @medmastodon #psychiatry https://www.canadianhealthcarenetwork.ca/its-normal-kids-abuse-their-barbie-dolls -
A good news story… because I need one.
A bottle in the water from a Newfoundland couple has been found in Ireland 🇮🇪 13 years later. And the couple is still together.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/nl-message-bottle-13-1.7581471
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Une histoire qui fait du bien… parce que j’en ai besoin d’une.Une bouteille à la mer d’une couple ténelien a été trouvé en Irlande 🇮🇪 13 ans plus tard. Et le couple sont toujours ensemble.
// Article en anglais //
#Newfoundland #TerreNeuve #NewfoundlandAndLabrador #TerreNeuveEtLabrador #Ireland
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Message in a Bottle 💌
#ThePolice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m3CMTeo-nU