Category Archives: Transhuman News

By Angela McArdle

Twenty-one years ago, our country was changed forever. On Sept. 11, 2001, al-Qaeda militants hijacked commercial airplanes and flew them into the World Trade Center in New York, killing nearly 3,000 people. As countless families still grieve their lost loved ones from that tragic dayand the country suffers the consequences of the resulting war on terrorlibertarians fear too many of our countrymen still have not learned a vital lesson.

Ten years after the 9/11 attacks, then-presidential candidate and now-former Rep. Ron Paul warned Americans that the attacks were blowback for our governments actions in the Middle East. It should be easy to imagine how such a remark astounded the electorate; until then, Americans had been oblivious to their governments ventures abroad. For whatever reason, the corporate media had never covered the CIAs arming of Osama bin Laden in the 1980s to fight communism in Afghanistan, or the fact that US soldiersmassacredIraqi civilians during the Gulf War, or the 1.5 million Iraqi civilianskilledby US sanctions on milk and medicine in the 1990s.

Yet we flooded Afghanistan, a country so poor and remote that many of its citizens had no concept of New York City, skyscrapers, or even televisionsmuch less the events of 9/11. Less than two years later, we plundered Iraq in search of Saddam Husseins ever-elusive weapons of mass destruction;nineteen years and 4,500 dead U.S. service members later, we still have troops there.

America needed Ron Pauls iconic, uncomfortable moment on that debate stage. The integrity to speak truth to ones own team is rare in politics. To be seen as unpatriotic or insulting to the military has always been a political death sentence, and the years immediately following 9/11 were no exception. But the reality was as true then as it is today: There are few acts more inhumane or disrespectful to our troops than sending them to fight and die in pointless, endless wars abroad.

And many of the sacrifices our politicians told us would be necessary have been turned against us: the Patriot Act, NSA surveillance, and detention without due process, to name just a few. Mainstream pundits have evencalled forJan. 6 protesters to be sent to Guantanamo Bay, a place designated exclusively for the most dangerous terrorists. How long until our government starts turning its critics right here at home into political prisoners?

Ron Paul warned what many of the unseen casualties of the war on terror would be: our civil liberties; our ability to engage in diplomacy; trillions upon trillions added to our national debt; and control of our federal government. We have also had more than30,000 veteran suicidessince 9/11, and an estimated38,000 homeless veterans, many of whom suffer from traumatic brain injuries.

The people of the Middle East have paid a price no less heavy. Brown Universitys Costs of War Projectestimatesthat Americas post-9/11 wars have killed between 900,000 and 2 million people, many of them innocent women and children. The number of displaced persons is unknown, and the ensuing political instability has decimated the quality of life for millions of Middle Easterners.

In light of all this, libertarians message for America is simple: No more.

No more entangling alliances, no more military aid in foreign conflicts that do not serve our nations interests, no more grieving parents or grieving children whove lost their family members because of our drone strikes, no more destruction of our Constitutional rights, and no more veteran suicides or starving, homeless veterans wandering American streets.

Originally published in Human Events on 9/9/22

See the article here:
Lessons Learned: Ron Paul's Warnings Against the War on Terror Stand True - Libertarian Party

Talk about a revelation that isnt much of a surprise.

The Anti-Defamation League recently released a report revealing that an alarming number of elected officials, law-enforcement officers and first responders are or have been members or supporters of the radical-right conspiracy theory group, Oath Keepers.

The ADL combed through an Oath Keepers membership list leaked a year ago by the transparency collective Distributed Denial of Secrets to determine who on the list also was on a public payroll.

The ADL found that more than 3,000 Oath Keepers nationally draw government paychecks.

And, shock of shocks, of those 3,000-plus Oath Keepers feeding at the public trough, 696 a little more than 20% are Hoosiers.

The ADL also discovered that 81 elected officials nationwide were on the Oath Keepers membership rolls.

Six are Hoosiers. The most prominent is Indiana Rep. Christopher Judy, R-Fort Wayne, who spends most of his time in the legislature trying to figure out ways to make guns as omnipresent in Hoosier lives as molecules of air are and to deny women any control over their own bodies.

Isnt it curious how many of these self-proclaimed freedom fighters devote themselves to making sure no one tells them what to do with their firearms while asserting they should have the authority to tell others how to plan their families and live their lives?

Some background is helpful.

The Oath Keepers were formed in 2009 by a guy named Stewart Rhodes, a follower of former Libertarian Party presidential candidate Ron Paul, the father of U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky. The elder Pauls presidential ambitions were undercut by charges that his newsletter served as a welcoming forum for racist and other bigoted fulminations, some of which appeared under Pauls byline.

Paul claimed that he never wrote or even saw any of the scurrilous stuff, which again appeared in a newsletter bearing his name and often under his own byline.

That denial calls to mind basketball star Charles Barkleys wounded assertion that he had been misquoted in his own autobiography.

Rhodes emerged as a public figure by writing that Paul was being persecuted and that holding a presidential candidate accountable for things to which hed signed his name wasnt fair. That became Rhodes schtick, contending that anything that made an aggrieved arch-conservative look bad was a rank injustice.

Rhodes, who soon will go to court on seditious conspiracy charges in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, is not a rube. He graduated from the Yale University Law School.

Another curiosity: Isnt it interesting that so many graduates of elite Ivy-League law schools Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, etc. come to believe that the world just hasnt been kind enough to guys such as them?

Rhodes particular insight in forming Oath Keepers was that former military personnel and those working in law enforcement and as first responders would provide a fertile field for recruiting.

He was right.

The Oath Keepers grew rapidly, its membership stoked by feverish fantasies of government run amok and poor, defenseless white men always being on the verge of annihilation. They vowed to protect the U.S. Constitution which, of course, established government in this country and resist tyranny.

The irony of opposing the very thing that provides so many of them with their livelihoods never seemed to occur to them.

The same goes for seeking to undermine the very principles of self-government they, in theory anyway, took oaths to defend.

That so many Hoosiers have swallowed such a half-cooked stew of reality-denying conspiracy theories and responsibility-evading fantasies isnt exactly a thunderbolt.

If anything, the shock is that only one member of the Indiana General Assembly showed up on the ADL list.

A majority of the members of our legislature, after all, recently argued that the COVID pandemic was nothing but a fraud cooked up by trained medical professionals just to make good old boys like our lawmakers wear masks in public.

These guys would buy farmland on the moon if someone like Rhodes was doing the selling.

The truly great thing about all this is that so many of them buy their groceries and cover the rent with money the rest of us provide.

Your tax dollars at work.

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KRULL COLUMN: Maybe it's an oath they don't understand - Evening News and Tribune

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You need to build an emergency fund, but you also want to go to Burning Man.

You need to save for retirement, but you also want a Corvette.

You need to buy a house, but you also want to go on a cruise.

At first glance, it seems like you can either do what you should do, or you can do what you want to do. But theres not enough time or money to do both.

Or is there? Today, were going to talk about how you can tackle multiple financial goals and still not miss out on having some fun.

As usual, host Stacy Johnson is joined by financial journalist Miranda Marquit. Listening in and sometimes contributing is producer Aaron Freeman. Todays special guest is Chris Hutchins, founder of the podcast All the Hacks.

Remember, even though we sometimes talk about money and specific investments on this show, dont take them as recommendations because theyre not. Before investing in anything or making any money moves, do your research and make your own decisions.

You can watch this episode below, or if youd prefer to listen, you can do that with the player at the top of this article or download it wherever you get your podcasts:

Dont forget to check out our podcast page for more episodes designed to help you make the most of your money and our YouTube page for more videos.

So many of us seem stuck in this mindset where you have to take care of a checklist. You cant invest until youve paid off your debt. You cant spend money on travel until youve invested a certain amount.

Here are some good resources on money and mindset, as well as how to set financial goals:

The hosts talk about better money management hacks throughout the podcast episode. If youre looking for our take on some of the best hacks, check out these articles that can help you change your approach to money management.

Chris Hutchins is an avid life hacker, financial optimizer and host of the top-ranked podcast All the Hacks, where he shares his quest to upgrade his life, money and travel, all while spending less and saving more.

Hes also the head of new product strategy at Wealthfront, an online platform to help you build wealth through investing. He and his work has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNBC and more.

Previously, he was founder/CEO of Grove (acquired by Wealthfront), an investor at Google Ventures, and a co-founder of Milk (acquired by Google).

A podcast is basically a radio show you can listen to anywhere and anytime, either by downloading it to your smartphone, or by listening online. Theyre awesome for learning stuff and being entertained when youre in the car, doing chores, jogging or riding your bicycle.

You can listen to our latest podcasts here or download them to your phone from any number of places, including Apple, Spotify, RadioPublic, Stitcher and RSS.

If you havent listened to our podcast yet, give it a try, then subscribe. Youll be glad you did!

Stacy Johnson founded Money Talks News in 1991. Hes a CPA, and has also earned licenses in stocks, commodities, options principal, mutual funds, life insurance, securities supervisor and real estate.

Miranda Marquit, MBA, is a financial expert, writer and speaker. Shes been covering personal finance and investing topics for almost 20 years. When not writing and podcasting, she enjoys travel, reading and the outdoors.

Disclosure: The information you read here is always objective. However, we sometimes receive compensation when you click links within our stories.

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9 Tips to Tackle Your Financial Goals and Still Have Fun - Money Talks News

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Wildfires are a devastating threat to homeowners everywhere, especially in the Western U.S. These blazes wreak havoc in the lives of thousands of people every year.

Federal government data shows that while the number of wildfires has decreased in recent years, the amount of area that typically burns in each fire is on the rise.

The 2022 Wildfire Risk Report from analytics firm CoreLogic notes:

Over the last decade, wildfire activity is becoming more extreme and destructive with more record-breaking fire events in terms of number of structures lost and acres burned in a single event.

During the most recent decade, wildfires have burned an average of 6.8 million acres annually, CoreLogic says. That is a sharp rise from the annual average of 2.7 million acres per year from 1983 to 1992.

Residents of some states are at much higher risk of wildfire damage than others. CoreLogic says the following places have the greatest number of homes at risk.

Single-family residences in this state that are at risk of wildfire damage: 1,265,435

Surprisingly, a 2017 review of historical trends found that the number of wildfires in California actually peaked in 1980 and had been decreasing in recent decades.

But drought conditions over the past few years have caused a more recent increase in fire activity. And in a state as highly populated as California, that puts many homes at risk.

Single-family residences in this state that are at risk of wildfire damage: 814,499

Like California, Florida is one of the most populated states in the nation, putting more homes in danger when wildfires break out.

One recent study projected that due to climate change, the percentage of homes at risk from wildfires in Florida could jump from the current 6% to 12% by 2052. And because Florida is so densely populated, more than 70% of all wildfires already threaten some type of structure in the state, according to the Florida Forest Service.

Single-family residences in this state that are at risk of wildfire damage: 474,560

Texas rounds out the trio of highly populated states with the most homes at risk of wildfire damage. As with the other states on this list, the fear is that as climate change dries out the landscape, future fires could become more destructive.

Here are the rest of the top 10 states with the most homes at risk of wildfire damage, and the number of those homes:

Disclosure: The information you read here is always objective. However, we sometimes receive compensation when you click links within our stories.

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10 States With the Most Homes at Risk of Wildfire - Money Talks News

Ever closed a website tab you werent actually ready to leave? Theres no need to dig through your browser history to get it back.

All you have to do is press Ctrl, Shift and T on your keyboard at the same time. (You can hold down the first two and then press the third.) If you have an Apple keyboard, use (Cmd) instead of Ctrl.

This opens the last tab you had open, unless youre using an Incognito or InPrivate window. (You can open one of those with Ctrl+Shift+N, by the way.) It works in the most common web browsers.

CNET recently highlighted this powerful keyboard shortcut, which is one of my absolute favorites because I have the bad habit of closing a tab by accident, or closing it and immediately realizing I forgot to read or copy a number or link I still needed.

That reminded me there are plenty of people who havent heard of keyboard shortcuts I use daily to speed up my computer work. Here are a few others to try:

You can really go down a rabbit hole with keyboard shortcuts, and most applications have their own. But I consider most shortcuts too esoteric to bother remembering these few save me time every single day. Give them a try.

Disclosure: The information you read here is always objective. However, we sometimes receive compensation when you click links within our stories.

The rest is here:
5 Handy Keyboard Shortcuts That Make Internet Life Easier - Money Talks News

Republican Govs. Ron DeSantis (Fla.) and Greg Abbott (Texas) ignited a firestorm overnight with their latest transport of migrants one via plane to a Massachusetts island and the other via bus to Vice President Harris' residence.

The big picture: Since the spring, over 10,000 migrants have been transported from mostly Texas to predominantly Democrat-run cities in a bid to test their social safety nets and challenge President Biden's border policies.

Driving the news: Buses sent by Abbott dropped off roughly 100 migrants outside Harris' residence in D.C. on Thursday, the Texas Tribune reports.

Context: Republican officials at the southern border have long argued that their constituents shouldn't have to accommodate or subsidize costs of living for undocumented migrants.

Zoom in: D.C., Chicago and New York have struggled to meet the need, with local officials calling on the Biden administration to provide federal support.

Between the lines: While Abbott, Ducey and DeSantis say their actions give predominantly Democratic-run states a taste of what they have to endure, critics have lambasted the move as a cruel and inhumane publicity stunt, pointing to the fact that many of these migrants are seeking asylum after fleeing danger.

What's happening now: In Martha's Vineyard, an island off the Massachusetts coast, volunteers have moved migrants into a church shelter and delivered water, diapers and clothing. A nonprofit is providing food for the asylum seekers while the state determines where to take them next.

Worth noting: California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has called on the Justice Department to open a probe of Abbott and DeSantis' "inhumane efforts to use kids as political pawns," and whether their actions could lead to kidnapping charges.

What to watch: Other Democratic mayors are making preparations in anticipation of Abbott sending migrants to their cities.

Go deeper: On the ground: The scramble to help migrants at Martha's Vineyard

View original post here:
What we know about Texas and Florida's transport of migrants - Axios

nd3000 / Shutterstock.com

Editor's Note: This story originally appeared on HireAHelper.

The U.S. economy today, in some ways, offers the most favorable conditions workers have had in years. The unemployment rate is as low as it has been in two decades, having bounced back from a pandemic-induced spike in 2020. Simultaneously, the wave of departures and job switches now known as the Great Resignation suggests that workers are on the hunt for better jobs.

To recruit and retain employees in a tight labor market, employers are raising wages and offering better benefits and flexible working arrangements.

Amid these labor-friendly conditions, another historic source of worker power may be making a comeback: unions.

Recent union drives at major U.S. employers like Starbucks and Amazon have grabbed headlines. Meanwhile, Congress is currently considering the PRO Act, a major piece of legislation that aims to strengthen unions.

Support for unions is similarly widespread among the general population; a majority of Americans believes that declines in union membership have been bad for the country, and according to the National Labor Relations Board, petitions for union elections nationwide rose by 57% from 2021 to 2022.

Researchers at HireAHelper calculated the percentage of workers who are union members by looking at data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2021 Current Population Survey.

Here are the states with the highest union participation rates.

The data used in this analysis is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2021 Current Population Survey. To determine the states with the highest union participation rates, researchers calculated the percentage of workers who are union members. In the event of a tie, the state with the greater percentage of workers who are represented by unions was ranked higher. For clarification, workers who are represented by unions includes both union members who have the right to vote on union business, as well as workers who report no union affiliation but whose jobs are covered by a union contract.

Only the 100 largest metropolitan areas with available data were considered in this analysis.

Disclosure: The information you read here is always objective. However, we sometimes receive compensation when you click links within our stories.

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15 States With the Highest Union Participation Rates - Money Talks News

Driving in winter weather conditions, including snow, sleet, freezing rain, and bitter cold, isnt for the faint of heart. Thats why choosing the right truck with the necessary options to brave these conditions is critical to your winter commute and holiday festivities. Winter is coming, and the 2022 Ram 1500 has what it takes to get through it.

According to Torque News, the New England Motor Press Association (NEMPA) chose the 2022 Ram 1500 as its Official Winter Pickup Truck of New England for two main reasons. One reason is the Ram 1500 engine options are broad and allow New England drivers to balance the amount of power on hand to tackle the harsh New England winters and still have some semblance of environmentally friendly fuel economy.

The other reason is Rams comfortable ride, thanks to its air suspension system that allows it to soak up the ruts and ridges left on the roadways as they freeze and thaw throughout the winter and into spring.

While John Paul, NEMPA president, only cited these two reasons for the 2022 Ram 1500 receiving the honor, this is Rams second year at the top of the category. Last year, the 2021 Ram TRX got the nod over the other entrants. When bestowing the award upon the Ram 1500 TRX, Paul said that the TRX satisfied New England drivers winter driving needs in every detail from its supercharged engine to its 35-inch tires.

The 2022 Ram 1500 features a variety of engine choices allowing flexibility when choosing power versus fuel economy, and its hybrid powertrain options provide a taste of the best of both. According to Ram Trucks, the most powerful engine option is the supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V8, rated at 702 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. While this engine choice is only available in the Ram 1500 TRX version, its 4.5-second zero to 60 mph acceleration and 118 mph top speed could help to get you home ahead of an approaching winter storm.

Next on the power scale is the available 5.7-liter Hemi V8 equipped with Rams eTorque Mild Hybrid Technology System. This combination produces 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque while providing up to 12,750 pounds of towing capacity for a properly equipped Ram 1500. Without the hybrid addition, the 5.7-liter engine provides the same horsepower and torque but towing capacity drops to 11,610 pounds.

There are two V6 engines available, one gasoline-powered and the other diesel. The gas V6 is a 3.6-liter paired with Rams eTorque with 305 horsepower and 269 lb-ft of torque capable of towing up to 7,730 pounds. The 3.0-liter diesel V6 has 260 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque with a 12,560 tow rating.

The Ram 1500 Limited trim includes the 5.7-liter V8 engine with or without eTorque and Rams Active-Level Four-Corner Air Suspension system for improved ride and stability. Southside Dodge explains that the air suspension system is an advanced piece of technology in your Ram 1500 that automatically (or manually, if you choose) adjusts the ride height of your truck. It works with the rest of the trucks systems to detect a heavy payload or attached trailer to provide a stable and smooth ride height.

RELATED: Potential 2022 Ram 1500 Problems You Need to Know About

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Winter is Coming But the 2022 Ram 1500 Isn't Worried - MotorBiscuit

After John Ritter left Threes Company behind and Katey Sagal was no longer Married With Children, but before Kaley Cuoco discovered The Big Bang Theory and David Spade learned the Rules of Engagement, those comedy TV stars aligned for ABCs 8 Simple Rules.

The sitcom, originally titled 8 Simple Rules For Dating My Teenage Daughter, premiered on September 17, 2002, starring Ritter as overprotective dad Paul Hennessy, Sagal playing even-tempered mom Cate Hennessy, and Cuoco as Bridget, one of three Hennessy kids.

After Ritter died unexpectedly in 2003, Spade joined the main cast playing Cates nephew C.J., as did The Rockford Files James Garner, who played Cates father, Jim.

8 Simple Rules got a tepid reception from TV critics, who called it fairly likable in a bland sort of way and on the verge of funny now and then. (On television as in life, dads would be more successful if they had better writers, quipped The New York Times Ron Wertheimer in one review.) But viewers took a liking to it, even awarding 8 Simple Rules first season a Peoples Choice Award for Favorite New TV Comedy and a Teen Choice Award for Choice Breakout TV Show.

As we mark 8 Simple Rules 20th anniversary, scroll down to see some of the shows big-name guest stars including the ones who staged TV reunions on the show.

Read more from the original source:
'8 Simple Rules' Turns 20: 10 Big Names Who Appeared on the Sitcom - TV Insider