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82% Of Internet Users in Countries With Some of the World’s Harshest Internet Censorship Regulations Expect the Need for Web Access Tools to Grow in…

Posted: July 3, 2022 at 3:49 am

TEL AVIV, Israel--(BUSINESS WIRE)--New research released today by Hola has highlighted concerns amongst internet users in countries with some of the most restricted web access in the world, that the need for web tools to access online content is going to grow in the next 12 months. The study, carried out by the leading market research firm Vanson Bourne on behalf of Hola, gathered insights from 2000 internet users across China, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam and United Arab Emirates (UAE), and found 82% of users believe the need for web content tools will increase in the next year. 93% of respondents in China believe the need will increase in their region, and this comes as internet censorship in China will continue to expand.

Citizens surveyed across these regions are struggling to gain access to basic resources that many outside of those regions take for granted. The research revealed that those with limited access to web content are struggling to access educational information and resources (43%) and online news (29%). When it comes to overcoming the growing challenge of internet censorship, citizens in those territories most impacted by restrictions overwhelmingly believe technology providers should be doing more to make online content accessible. 97% of those asked believe this to be the case and nearly all respondents in China (99%) think technology providers should be doing more in this area.

Web content tools are becoming increasingly important as censorship grows and users look to bypass local restrictions. The findings show 92% of respondents that use web content unlocking tools to access online content believe they are important to enable this access. 95% of internet users that have limited access to online content already use web content tools to access restricted material. Some online tools can be expensive and therefore not accessible for all users, making free tools that allow a gateway to web content a necessity. When it comes to free-to-use tools, 80% of respondents would consider using free technology tools to be able to access online content.

The internet was created to be a global borderless resource that benefits us all, but due to geopolitical interferences, it is becoming increasingly closed off in certain regions, and we must all work together to fight back against this, explained Avi Raz Cohen, Holas General Manager. As we can see in the findings, users are struggling to gain access to educational material and online news content, amongst other things, and this is simply unacceptable. We agree with users in those regions that technology companies should be doing more to address this and one key weapon in this battle is free web content tools that help unlock blocked content. We are proud to provide free VPN technology and web tools that unlock online content and help bypass restrictions. One thing is certain - well do all we can to support citizens around the world as they push for borderless online freedom.

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Poverty, restrictions, censorship: What’s driving Egyptians to head for Europe – InfoMigrants

Posted: at 3:49 am

Since the beginning of the year, 4,154 Egyptian migrants have arrived on the shores of Italy. This represents a threefold increase compared to the same period last year. Confronted with an economic crisis and wide-spread repression at home, they consider leaving Egypt by boat as their only option.

Beginning in the spring, small boats loaded with migrants started arriving in Italy almost every day. Rescued off the coast of Calabria, Sicily and Lampedusa for the most part, these new arrivals take enormous risks to reach Europe by crossing the Central Mediterranean, one of the world's deadliest migration routes.

According to the Italian interior ministry, 26,652 people arrived in Italy by sea between January 1 and June 27, 2022. Egypt comes in second after Bangladesh as the top nationality of people arriving irregularly in Italy. It was even the first nationality represented among the arrivals up until May.

The distance from the Egyptian coast to Italy is considerable: for example, more than 1,500 kilometers separate Alexandria from the Italian islands of Lampedusa and Sicily.

Of the total number of people disembarked in Italy this year, 4,605 were Bangladeshi (16%) and 4,154 were Egyptian (15%). This is a threefold increase compared to 2021, when 1,543 Egyptian nationals were counted.

The European Commission has called this "a spectacular increase", and in an internal note dated June 15 and consulted by the media Euro Observer, it pledged 80 million to the Egyptian government to prevent people from taking boats toward Italy.

Of this amount, around 23 million will reportedly be handed out this year for "maritime border surveillance equipment." The remaining 57 million will be doled out next year "for further equipment to be identified," the document stated.

The note further stated that increased controls of the Egyptian border with Libya and Sudan are also to be expected, but without further details.

Read more: Egypt town fears worst for local men lost en route to Europe

The factors pushing Egyptians to leave for Europe via irregular channels seem to be rooted in the dire eonomic constitution of their country.

For several years now, Egypt has been mired in a serious economic crisis from which it is struggling to extricate itself. In 2016, two years after Abdel Fattah al-Sissi became president, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) released an initial bailout loan of 12 billion dollars. The government then planned to implement austerity measures while encouraging the development of an inclusive economy driven by the private sector, necessary to create jobs and reduce poverty.

"Only half of this plan was implemented," says Timothy Kaldas, researcher at the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy. "Austerity has become the reality for millions of people. The state has cut subsidies for oil, natural gas and even electricity. For Egyptians, the bill has been hefty: the amount of money spent on electricity by the poor and the middle class has increased by 271% between 2011 and 2017-2018."

As a result, the poverty rate in Egypt has skyrocketed. According to official figures, it now stands at 29.7%, two points more than in 2015. The World Bank issued an even grimmer outlook in 2019, declaring that 60% of the Egyptian population was very poor or vulnerable.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine have dealt the final blow to an economic situation that was already moribund. Before the Russian offensive, Egypt was one of Kyivs main clients, importing 30% of its wheat imports from Ukraine. The remaining 60% of Egypts wheat imports came from Russia. This situation of almost total dependence makes the threat of a food shortage in Egypt all the more likely, the consequences of which would be disastrous for the population.

Faced with the scarcity of imports and the price of food increasing by 17.5% in February, the Egyptian government has been struggling to continue subsidizing the traditional Egyptian "baladi" bread, which has fed 70% of the population for decades.

Already in 2020, the Egyptian authorities had made the population pay for their poor economic management. To maintain the price of bread at the subsidized level of 5 piastres, or around 0.0027, the government reduced its weight. From 110 grams in 2016, it went down to 90 grams in 2020. This represents a departure from the years 1988 to 2013, when Egyptians could buy a 130-gram flatbread at a steady price.

For Timothy Kaldas, "the authorities constantly accuse foreigners as the source of all the evils in the country. But Egyptians have been fighting daily for a long time. Many young adults who cannot afford to move out live with their parents to spend as little as possible. So after several years without improvements, and faced with a constellation of problems, its logic that they seek opportunities elsewhere.

In this context, many Egyptians are turning to the informal sector for work, which is certainly easier to access, but also more precarious. Some also choose entrepreneurship, a seemingly faster and easier way to earn a living. "But even starting your own business, the last resort for many people who cannot find work, is complicated. It is not uncommon to see the military arrive overnight in your offices, and close everything, if your activities do not suit them," says Kaldas.

The lucky ones are reprimanded. The others are thrown into prison. According to Amnesty International, Egypt currently has more than 60,000 prisoners of conscience, including "peaceful activists, human rights defenders, lawyers, academics and journalists detained solely for exercising their rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association". For Bahey Eldin Hassan, an Egyptian pioneer of human rights exiled in France, the Egypt of Abdel Fatah al-Sissi is comparable to the "Syria of Bashar al-Assad" or "the Sudan" of former dictator Omar al-Bashir, as he said in an interview with TV5monde.

On April 27, the Egyptian president made concessions. That day, more than 3,200 detainees were released, on the anniversary of the "liberation of Sinai", a peninsula occupied by Israel from 1967 to April 25, 1982. The presidential pardon will not resolve eight years of restrictions, threats, and censorship. For Egyptians in search of a better life, it is difficult to imagine a future in a country with a leader who could technically remain until 2030, due to a revision of the Constitution carried out in 2019.

"I fear that migration has become the inevitable fate of thousands of Egyptians", says Hassan Abdel Rahman, a researcher. "The dream of a better future in Europe has become the main objective for many."

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Opinion | Justin Trudeau’s government is on a quest for censorship – Hamilton Spectator

Posted: at 3:49 am

Sign first, then well discuss the details.

Nobody would trust a real estate agent or used car dealership with that approach, but thats how the Trudeau government is trying to sell its plan to regulate the internet.

The government is trying to rush new censorship legislation through Parliament at lightning speed. Through Bill C-11, the Trudeau government plans to hand the CRTC the power to control what content Canadians can access online. This includes filtering feeds on popular apps like Netflix, YouTube and TikTok.

As if that wasnt bad enough, the government is deliberately choosing not to disclose the scope of these new regulatory powers until after the bill becomes law.

Such an approach runs roughshod over the democratic process.

If the government wants to ram through new censorship powers, at a bare minimum we deserve to know just how aggressively the CRTC will be instructed to regulate what we see and share online.

The government cant even get bureaucrats singing from its own hymn book.

Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez has promised up and down that user-generated content, meaning content a typical Canadian might upload to YouTube or share on Twitter, will not be regulated through Bill C-11.

But Ian Scott, the chair of the CRTC, which will be responsible for applying the regulations on the governments behalf, says user-generated content will be fair game.

Who should Canadians believe?

If the CRTC says it will have the power to regulate user-generated content through Bill C-11, and theyre the ones tasked with implementing it, Canadians should listen to the CRTC.

As the government attempts to give itself sweeping new powers, it is worthwhile to ask why the government wants bureaucrats to have these new powers in the first place.

The government claims it wants to ensure Canadians are exposed to enough Canadian content online. But this raises serious questions.

First, is the government competent to decide what should count as Canadian content?

Currently, the CRTCs process in making that determination is flawed. A biopic of the Trump presidency, entitled Gotta Love Trump, is considered by the CRTC as Canadian content, while The Handmaids Tale, based on legendary Canadian writer Margaret Atwoods famous novel, is not.

On the competence question, the answer clearly is no.

Second, what happens if the government decides it wants to use the CRTCs new powers to influence what we see and share online based on standards other than Canadian content?

Its easy to foresee mission creep. Today, the government wants to promote Canadian content. But tomorrow, with the CRTCs powerful new tools to regulate the internet, Bill C-11 could easily be repurposed to quiet dissent or promote favourable narratives. Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino, for example, has mused about the government pursuing new regulatory measures for the sake of social cohesion.

With these clear risks, it is worth asking whether this legislation is even needed, as the government claims, to ensure Canadian content gains adequate exposure.

The truth is that Canadian content is thriving like never before. In 2020 alone, Canadas film and television industry enjoyed $6 billion in foreign investment, up five per cent from the year prior. And Canadian films and shows are easy to find on streaming services like Netflix.

If the sole rationale of Bill C-11 is to have Canadian content thrive and succeed online, then present data demonstrate that the legislation simply isnt needed. The government could just scrap Bill C-11 and call it a day.

The fact that Rodriguez and the Trudeau government are still aggressively pushing Bill C-11 in light of these facts demonstrates that the governments motive is not, as it claims, to promote Canadian content. Rather, it is all about control.

Jay Goldberg is the Ontario and interim Atlantic director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. Troy Media.

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In face of ‘woke’ ideologies, Catholics increasingly self-censoring their faith – The Catholic Register

Posted: at 3:49 am

Controversial issues on which the Church maintains counter-cultural positions definitely bring more heated discussion, and you do have to play it safe, Chong said. You have to be more careful in the workplace. You want to pick your battles ... and if you need to avoid controversial issues, then do so if you think your job is at stake.

Such self-censorship by Catholic workers is definitely not fair, she admits, because fellow workers holding politically acceptable liberal woke views are usually free to espouse them at will.

Self-censorship can be seen as a manifestation of cancel culture, and its more than just a minor workplace irritant, say the authors of a major international report on the anti-Christian chilling effect thats rolling across modern Western society. In fact, they say secular intolerance represents a persecution engine that is both pernicious and dangerous to religious freedom.

The report Perceptions on Self-Censorship: Confirming and Understanding the Chilling Effect was published by the International Institute for Religious Freedom, the Observatory of Religious Freedom in Latin America, and the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe.

Hate crimes, including the wildfire of anti-Catholic arson and vandalism that swept across Canada last summer following the discovery of unmarked graves at former residential school sites, may be the latest, most visible manifestation of anti-Christian bias, but just as threatening is the rendering as unacceptable any expression of traditional Christian teaching on fundamental life issues.

Religious persecution is often thought of as people who are jailed or facing criminal charges, or even facing death for their faith, Canadian academic Janet Epp-Buckingham said during an online conference with the Vienna-based Observatory of Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians.

But in secular countries there is this death by a thousand cuts consisting of numerous smaller matters adding up to the larger issue of feeling under pressure for your faith and thereby having this chilling effect that I cant say anything about my faith, said Epp-Buckingham.

Epp-Buckingham, a professor at Trinity Western University in Langley, B.C., and director of the Laurentian Leadership Centre in Ottawa, said in a later interview that while the report on self-censorship centred on case studies in France, Germany, Colombia and Mexico, there has been a clear narrowing of acceptable public discourse in Canada, with the result that Christians here are being forced to self-censor.

Christians are afraid to express their views on social media for fear of repercussions at work or in their social circles, said Epp-Buckingham, who is also executive editor of the International Journal for Religious Freedom.

Christians are regularly advised to keep any church affiliation off their resume or LinkedIn as it might hurt their career. There seems to be a widespread view that religion should be a private matter and kept to oneself.

The chilling effect could have even more serious effects, said Madeleine Enzlberger, executive director of the Observatory of Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians.

One of the most worrying and tragic findings of this report is that (it finds) if the social costs to follow your belief and to express it become too high, people will ultimately abandon their belief, said Enzlberger. And it is especially younger and uneducated people whose faith is at risk here.

The study found secularization has narrowed the corridor of socially acceptable discourse, in turn producing a chilling effect on opinions outside of that corridor and ultimately precipitating extensive Christian self-censorship. The phenomenon is most noticeable in online social forums.

Its not about strict legal cases or persecution even, said German sociologist Friederike Boellmann, one of the reports three authors, but every person that I interviewed noticed a change in the climate or a narrowing of the opinion corridor.

German research showed it is universities that are the most hostile environment.

And the largest extent of self-censorship I found in my research (was) in the academic realm, said Boellmann.

Some interviewees said the nature of public debate has worsened to the point that people are forever excluded from debates, lose their professional credibility, are not invited anymore and not to be underestimated (are thought to) become dangers to other people that are seen in contact with them.

The research found that Catholics tend to self-censor more than other Christians. While the researchers did not study the self-censorship problem in Canada, Trinity Western political-science professor Paul Rowe told the conference this countrys political climate has clearly had a chilling effect on Christians.

Rowe said the Liberal Party of Canada has been responsible for mobilizing the electorate along anti-religious lines, with the result that Canada is far ahead of many other states when it comes to chilling Christian discourse.

The Liberal Party has long seen conservative Christians to be a soft target within the wider conservative movement, said Rowe.

It has become clear that certain views are not acceptable within the Liberal Partys ranks, and more to the point, they will run directly counter to them in an effort to pillory so-called social conservatives.

Whether or not Christians feel they can publicize their beliefs, there are clear reasons that they need to remain quiet about them if they wish to gain access to public funding, Rowe said, citing such examples as the Canada Summer Jobs program and pro-life organizations charitable status.

Moreover, he said, the breadth of application of (Parliaments) conversion-therapy ban also leaves many religious people uncertain whether they can affirm conservative religious views on sexuality without fear of prosecution, whether or not they formally engage in trying to persuade someone to diverge from their chosen sexual preferences.

Rowe said each of these policies has had a chilling effect not only on Christians but also on people of other religious communities and even some of no religion at all.

The instrumental use of religion as a wedge to ply apart Canadian society is dangerous. It signals that there is a minority which neither fully belongs in our society, nor should it enjoy the full privileges of citizenship.

Catherine H, a Catholic public sector worker whose name has been changed to protect her identity, said that pressure to conform to secular values takes many forms. Her employer is now encouraging employees to identify in their emails their favoured pronouns (she/hers, him/his, they/their). So far she is refusing and hasnt spoken out against it.

Its not mandated, but theres always the fear, What if I dont? she said. If that should come down to a condition of employment, then thats very troubling.

Christian Elia, executive director of the Catholic Civil Rights League, said there is an easy solution to the problem.

The solution really is to be more Catholic, Elia said. Think about it. We are called to love our neighbour and were also called to love our enemies. We are called to reconcile faith and reason.

While Catholics are called to live lives of humility, that doesnt mean being silent.

Quite frankly, we have to remind people of the immense good that we do, said Elia. What if our hospitals and schools didnt exist? Would Canada be a better society? Of course not.

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Governor Ron DeSantis Appoints Seven to the Commission for Independent Education – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis

Posted: June 30, 2022 at 9:19 pm

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Mildred Coyne, Jeff Cross, Judith Marty, Troy Stefano, Sharon Taylor-Ellis, Kristin Whitaker, and Burton Tra Williams III to the Commission for Independent Education.

Mildred Coyne, PhD

Coyne, of Cocoa, is a Senior Vice President of Broward College. She is the Founder and Co-Chair of the Florida College Systems Council of Workforce Education, a board member of CareerSource Broward, and a member of the National Association of Community Colleges. Coyne earned her bachelors degree in communication from Point Park University and her masters degree in higher education administration and doctorate in higher education leadership from Capella University.

Jeff Cross

Cross, of Orlando, is the Senior Vice President of Online for Herzing University. He has been involved in higher education for nearly 25 years. Cross earned his bachelors degree in business from California State University and his masters degree in business administration from Webster University.

Judith Marty

Marty, of Miami, is the President of Doral College. She is the former Board Chair of Pinecrest Charter Schools and was previously designated as a Breakthrough Principal by the National Association of Schools Administrators. Marty earned her bachelors degree in elementary education from Kean University and her masters degree in education from the University of Miami.

Troy Stefano, PhD

Stefano, of Wellington, is an Associate Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary. He is a member of the American Society of Bioethics and Humanities. Stefano earned his bachelors degree in history from St. Thomas University, his masters degree in history of Christianity and doctorate in history of Christianity and systemic theology from the University of Notre Dame, and completed Stanford Universitys professional certification program in artificial intelligence.

Sharon Taylor-Ellis

Taylor-Ellis, of St. Cloud, is the Vice President of Advanced Training at Universal Technical Institute and the Campus President of the Orlando campus. She is a member of the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges. Taylor-Ellis earned her bachelors degree in history and Asian studies from Wake Forest University.

Kristin Whitaker

Whitaker, of Tallahassee, is the Senior Vice President of Public Affairs at Mercury, LLC. She previously served as Vice Chancellor of Public Policy and Advocacy for the State University System of Florida and is a board member of the Florida Education Foundation. Whitaker earned her bachelors degree in international affairs and her masters degree in elementary education from Florida State University.

Burton Tra Williams III

Williams, of Lakewood Ranch, is the President and Owner of FleetForce Truck Driving School. He is a member of the International Franchise Association and the Florida Trucking Association. Williams earned his bachelors degree in pre-medicine from the University of Georgia and is a graduate of Georgetown Universitys Franchise Management Program.

These appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

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The Dirty Pictures That Revolutionized Art – Reason

Posted: at 9:19 pm

Starting in the 1960s, a maverick band of young cartoonists like Robert Crumb, Art Spiegelman, Trina Robbins, and Gilbert Shelton starting churning out comic books the likes of which had never seen before. These "undergound" works definitely weren't aimed at kids and they didn't follow the exploits of costumed do-gooders or anodyne high schoolers like Riverdale High's Archie, Betty, and Veronica.

Drawing inspiration from Mad magazine and horror comics that had been subjected to congressional scrutiny in the 1950s, the new "comix" were filled with sex, drugs, and violence; ruthlessly satirized mass culture; and drew the ire of crusaders against obscenity and cultural decline. Yet within a decade, underground comix had become recognized as a vital artistic force in America whose influence is still massive and growing in art, music, movies, design, and more.

Brian Doherty's Dirty Pictures: How an Underground Network of Nerds, Feminists, Misfits, Geniuses, Bikers, Potheads, Printers, Intellectuals, and Art School Rebels Revolutionized Art and Invented Comix, is the definitive history of this vital yet underappreciated aspect of American popular culture. The artists Doherty writes aboutmany of whom whom went on to win Pulitzer Prizes, MacArthur "genius" grants, and both mass and critical acclaimshook up popular culture and the high art world while fighting for radical, creative expression in an age of censorship. The lessons from their struggles are particularly prescient for a contemporary world beseiged by cancel culture and all manner of attempts to shut down speech deemed offensive, triggering, or morally suspect.

Doherty is a Reason senior editor and the author of books such as the This Is Burning Man: The Rise of a New American Underground, Radicals for Capitalism: A Freewheeling History of the Modern American Libertarian Movement, and about comix, their enduring relevance, and the surprising connections between alternative art and political movements such as libertarianism.

This interview was taped live on Monday, June 20, 2022, as part of the Reason Speakeasy series, held monthly in New York City. Go herefor podcast and video versions of past events.

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5 Things You Might Want to Avoid at Ikea – Money Talks News

Posted: at 9:19 pm

Kit Leong / Shutterstock.com

As you wind through Ikeas blue-and-yellow labyrinth or shop online, its nearly impossible to resist buying something cute and affordable.

The retailer has an abundance of reasonably priced, sleek and trendy items for everyone, from people furnishing first homes to families hunting for baby cribs.

But some of Ikeas products may not be such a good bargain when you factor in a history of safety concerns and poor customer reviews.

If youre like many people, youll find lots to love about plenty of Ikea products. Still, the next time you shop at Ikea, you may want to roll faster than a Swedish meatball past these items.

As a property development expert, Ive had many electricians complain to me when I used to buy Ikea ceiling lamps about how annoying they were to install and how quickly they would stop working, says Marina Vaamonde, owner of HouseCashin, an online marketplace for off-market houses.

Theyre flimsy and of very poor quality, Vaamonde tells Money Talks News. While the cost savings might attract your everyday DIY buyer, they stop working so easily that you might as well spend the extra money to get a high-quality lamp so that you dont have to worry about it anymore.

Such ceiling lamps, especially ones with glass shades, might also pose a safety hazard. In fact, Ikea recalled its Calypso ceiling lamps in 2018 and its Hyby and Lock ceiling lights in 2016, all for the safety hazard posed by each fixtures glass shade detaching and falling.

According to customer reviews on Ikeas website, its not just the price ($40 to $140 USD) of the Billy bookcase line thats cheap. While positive reviews of the Billy bookcase abound, negative reviews focus mainly on the products flimsiness.

Customers on Ikeas website complain that the bookcase, made of particle board, fell apart while they tried to assemble or disassemble the case. Other reviewers complained of shelves bowing or the bookcase breaking after using it for a short time.

Joe Ferguson, an architectural joiner at Skirtings R Us in Worcester, England, who also prepares interior living spaces for clients moving into new homes, has experienced this issue himself.

We noticed that the Billy bookcase is one of the things to avoid as they are flimsy and made out of particle board, Ferguson tells Money Talks News. One time, the client thought that the bookcase [we wanted to buy] was too expensive for her and proceeded to buy stuff from Ikea instead. It was then that she realized that the bookcase cant handle heavy objects and sags because it is made from particle board.

So at the least, you might want to avoid Billy bookcases if you intend to put much weight on them.

In 2020, Ikea agreed to pay a $46 million settlement to the parents of a toddler who died after one of its Malm dressers tipped over on him. That wasnt the first time Ikeas Malm dressers and chests were in the news for safety hazards, either. In 2016 and 2017, Ikea announced a voluntary recall of various Malm dressers and chests as well as the Kullen three-drawer chest and other chests and dressers, all due to tipping hazards.

In 2019, Ikea announced that it would launch a new Glesvar line of dressers and chests with safety features to prevent tip-overs in select global markets. However, as of this writing, no Glesvar dressers or chests are listed on Ikeas U.S. website.

You may be tempted by the affordable price of Malm chests and dressers ($250 and under). But at least if you have small children, consider spending a bit more on furniture designed to prevent tipping.

In 2018, Ikea issued a recall on the Glivarp glass-top dining table due to a laceration hazard and complaints about the glass leaf detaching and falling. But consumers also reported to the CPSC that this products glass top shattered when no one was even using it: The lower two glass panels on my Ikea Glivarp table shattered out of the blue, wrote one consumer in 2021, about a version of the table that was not subject to the recall.

And its not just tables that receive explosion complaints. Consumers have also reported to the CPSC glass desk tops shattering when not in use. Some have even posted YouTube videos displaying the aftermath, as ABC affiliate WCPO-TV in Cincinnati reported in 2017.

In 2019, Ikea told ABC affiliate KTRK-TV in Houston, which was investigating an incident with a Glivarp table at the time:

We use tempered glass in our furniture, which breaks into chunks rather than shards and helps prevent injury if the glass breaks. It is in the nature of tempered glass to shatter when exposed to knocks, strikes or scratches.

The Glivarp table is no longer for sale on Ikeas U.S. site, but make sure you at least scour online reviews for possible safety hazards before you buy glass-top furniture. You can also search the CPSCs public database of unsafe product reports as SaferProducts.gov.

Lets face it. You cant really expect a set of queen sheets that sell for under $20 to bring sweet dreams. But even some of Ikeas pricier bed sheets receive some scathing reviews on the companys site for being scratchy, wrinkly and, strangely enough, noisy.

They crinkle so loud when one turns over in bed! wrote one reviewer of Ikeas Somntuta sheets.

They are loud and feel and sound like paper, wrote another.

I only got about an hour into sleeping before the gritty, hard texture was too much to bear and I had to rip them off the bed, another reviewer wrote. These SMNTUTA sheets have the texture and comfort of sleeping on burlap they are the worst sheets Ive ever bought.

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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Last Call for 6.30.22 A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics – Florida Politics

Posted: at 9:19 pm

Last Call A prime-time read of whats going down in Florida politics.

First Shot

The Republican Party of Florida has fleshed out the schedule for the upcoming Sunshine Summit and Victory Dinner.

In a news release, RPOF said the event will include speaker slots for many of the top elected Republicans in the state, including Gov. Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis, Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuez, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack, Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, Attorney General Ashley Moody, Senate President-designate Kathleen Passidomo and House Speaker-designate Paul Renner.

The agenda also includes a slew of conservative media personalities, such as Mark Levin, Karol Markowicz, Dave Rubin, Lisa Boothe, Clay Travis, Mollie Hemingway, Eliana Johnson and Stephen Moore, among others.

RPOF previously announced that the event will feature debates for Republican Primary candidates running in Floridas 4th, 7th, 13th and 15th Congressional Districts.

The 2022 Sunshine Summit will be held July 22-23 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Prospective attendees may register online, with ticket packages starting at the $100-per-person level.

___

Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Frieds gubernatorial campaign is highlighting critical moments and figures in womens rights in a new statewide ad.

The video features clips of marchers, suffragists, womens rights icons such as Alice Paul and Carrie Chapman Catt, as well as notable women politicians such as U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the recently deceased Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

The images run up to the present day, with scenes from protests spurred by the U.S. Supreme Courts decision overturning Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey.

The ads backing track is I Wont Back Down by Tom Petty and Fried reiterated the theme of the late 1980s hit in a news release announcing the ad.

This is the most important message weve ever released, Fried said. I am standing on the shoulders of all these trailblazing women and so is every other woman and ally fighting for womens rights. We wont back down. We wont back down. We wont back down.

Her campaign also noted that the ex-wife of the late Gainesville-born musician, Jane Benyo Petty, has endorsed Fried in the Democratic Primary for Governor.

Benyo Pettys endorsement, offered up on Twitter two weeks ago, was succinct: We need a good woman Governor who cares.

To watch the ad, click on the image below:

Evening Reads

White House focuses on Gov. Ron DeSantis but struggles with Florida via Matt Dixon of POLITICO Florida

Vice President DeSantis? Donald Trump isnt ruling it out via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics

Ketanji Brown Jackson sworn in as first Black woman, 116th justice on U.S. Supreme Court via Alex Roarty of the Miami Herald

Black Florida law students see Supreme Court Justice Jackson as an inspiration via Lauren Peace of the Tampa Bay Times

Judge to block Floridas 15-week abortion ban, says it violates state Constitutions privacy language via Michael Moline of the Florida Phoenix

Doctor ousted from Florida childrens health board over vaccine views via Christine Jordan Sexton of Florida Politics

Gov. DeSantis to recommend Ray Rodrigues to lead State University System via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics

The Supreme Court hands Joe Biden the smallest possible victory in its Remain in Mexico case via Ian Millhiser of Vox

Biden, chiding court, endorses ending filibuster to codify abortion rights via Michael D. Shear and Jim Tankersley of The New York Times

Candidate with a felony cant volunteer in Broward schools. But hes running for office to help run them. via Scott Travis of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Think U.S. gas prices are high? Heres how far $40 goes around the world. via Alexa Juliana Ard, Ruby Mellen, Steven Rich and Jlia Ledur of The Washington Post

All eyes on airlines as July Fourth holiday weekend nears via David Koenig of The Associated Press

For Orlando Museum of Art, a future full of questions via Matthew J. Palm of the Orlando Sentinel

Quote of the Day

Today is an important victory for freedom across the Sunshine State and Floridas constitutional right to privacy. The reproductive freedoms of Floridas women stood strong in the face of Gov. DeSantiss ongoing attempts to strip away their right to make decisions over their bodies.

U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, on the court ruling blocking Floridas 15-week abortion ban.

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5 Home Renovations With the Worst Payoff – Money Talks News

Posted: at 9:19 pm

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Home renovations can be a real chore not to mention expensive. If its a change that will improve a home you plan to stay in for a long time, go ahead and take on the challenge.

But sometimes, homeowners can be fooled into thinking an update will greatly improve their homes resale value. And thats not always the case.

Remodeling magazines 2022 Cost vs. Value Report looks at how well 22 remodeling projects retain their value at resale in 150 U.S. markets. In some cases, youll barely recoup half the renovation cost when it comes time to sell.

The following are the home renovations with the absolute worst payoff, starting with the project in the No. 5 spot.

National average cost: $175,473

Average cost recouped: 53.4%

The study doesnt just look at remodels, but at additions as well, meaning adding a completely new section to a house. The addition of a midrange master suite can cost more than $175,000 and recoups just over half that when the time comes to sell. But before you sell, youd be enjoying a pretty luxe new bedroom. The Remodeling magazine estimate assumes youve added a walk-in closet, dressing area and bathroom with double-bowl vanity, freestanding soaker tub and a separate ceramic tile shower.

National average cost: $158,015

Average cost recouped: 52.5%

If you love to cook or entertain in your kitchen, you may want to splurge on an upscale remodel but note that it will cost more than $158,000. While you might not be doing it for resale value, youll certainly enjoy the perks, which include high-end appliances, custom cabinets, stone countertops and new lighting.

National average cost: $63,986

Average cost recouped: 51.8%

One more bathroom may not recoup its costs entirely, but youll obviously find it helpful, especially if you have a large family or plenty of visitors. A midrange bathroom addition includes adding a 6-by-8-foot space much smaller than an upscale version, but more practical and less pricey.

National average cost: $114,773

Average cost recouped: 51.5%

If you can spend more than $100,000 adding a bathroom, youre certainly living well, and maybe you wont mind that youll only recoup about 50% of what you put into it. But you may never want to leave this new 100-square-foot bathroom, which includes a shower, soaker tub, two medicine cabinets, stone countertop with two sinks, heated floors and more.

National average cost: $356,945

Average cost recouped: 46.3%

Drum roll, please the home renovation with the absolute worst payoff, according to the report, is an upscale master suite addition. But to be fair, this is a monster project, including a large sleeping area, master bath, custom bookcases, high-end gas fireplace, walk-in closet, hospitality counter with bar sink, fridge and microwave, soundproofing and in-floor heating. Were betting those who have more than $350,000 to spend on a master suite like this arent going to need to recoup a lot when they go to sell.

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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The 15 Most-Divorced Cities in the US – Money Talks News

Posted: at 9:19 pm

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Editor's Note: This story originally appeared on ChamberOfCommerce.org.

Marriage and divorce in the U.S. today are starkly different than in earlier eras of the countrys history.

A series of economic, legal, and social shifts reshaped marriage in the second half of the 20th century. More women began working outside of the home in the post-World War II era, which provided avenues to financial security and independence outside of marriage. Greater emphasis on postsecondary educational attainment and career development have led young people to wait longer to enter marriage.

States began to adopt no-fault divorce laws throughout the 1960s and 1970s that made it easier to end a marriage. Meanwhile, changing social and cultural attitudes have made it more common for couples to cohabitate, combine finances, and raise children prior to getting married or without getting married at all.

These trends have contributed to a decline in the overall number of marriages and to delays in when people get married for the first time. In the U.S., there are currently only 6.5 marriages per 1,000 people each year, compared with 10.9 five decades ago.

These shifts have also affected how likely married couples are to stay together. As women entered the workforce in the mid-20th century and feminism and the sexual revolution took hold, rates of divorce rose quickly throughout the 1960s and 1970s. From 1960 to 1980, the divorce rate per 1,000 people in the U.S. more than doubled from 2.2 to 5.2. But the rate began to fall steadily after 1980, and as of 2018, the rate of divorce had dropped to 2.9 per 1,000 people.

To determine the most divorced locations, researchers at ChamberOfCommerce.org calculated the percentage of adults currently divorced. The data used in this analysis is from the U.S. Census Bureaus 2020 American Community Survey.

Here are the most-divorced cities in the U.S.

Percentage of adults currently divorced: 12.7%

Percentage of adults currently separated: 2.0%

Percentage of adults currently married: 46.1%

Percentage of adults never married: 34.9%

Percentage of adults currently divorced: 12.8%

Percentage of adults currently separated: 2.7%

Percentage of adults currently married: 28.5%

Percentage of adults never married: 50.3%

Percentage of adults currently divorced: 12.9%

Percentage of adults currently separated: 2.3%

Percentage of adults currently married: 45.1%

Percentage of adults never married: 34.2%

Percentage of adults currently divorced: 13.0%

Percentage of adults currently separated: 1.5%

Percentage of adults currently married: 49.9%

Percentage of adults never married: 31.1%

Percentage of adults currently divorced: 13.0%

Percentage of adults currently separated: 2.0%

Percentage of adults currently married: 41.9%

Percentage of adults never married: 36.6%

Percentage of adults currently divorced: 13.3%

Percentage of adults currently separated: 2.2%

Percentage of adults currently married: 39.7%

Percentage of adults never married: 39.7%

Percentage of adults currently divorced: 13.5%

Percentage of adults currently separated: 1.9%

Percentage of adults currently married: 45.9%

Percentage of adults never married: 33.4%

Percentage of adults currently divorced: 13.5%

Percentage of adults currently separated: 2.4%

Percentage of adults currently married: 38.5%

Percentage of adults never married: 40.5%

Percentage of adults currently divorced: 13.5%

Percentage of adults currently separated: 3.4%

Percentage of adults currently married: 24.7%

Percentage of adults never married: 52.3%

Percentage of adults currently divorced: 13.5%

Percentage of adults currently separated: 3.5%

Percentage of adults currently married: 36.8%

Percentage of adults never married: 39.8%

Percentage of adults currently divorced: 13.8%

Percentage of adults currently separated: 2.0%

Percentage of adults currently married: 43.8%

Percentage of adults never married: 35.3%

Percentage of adults currently divorced: 14.0%

Percentage of adults currently separated: 2.2%

Percentage of adults currently married: 42.3%

Percentage of adults never married: 35.8%

Percentage of adults currently divorced: 14.3%

Percentage of adults currently separated: 2.3%

Percentage of adults currently married: 35.7%

Percentage of adults never married: 42.5%

Percentage of adults currently divorced: 14.6%

Percentage of adults currently separated: 2.5%

Percentage of adults currently married: 42.2%

Percentage of adults never married: 34.7%

Percentage of adults currently divorced: 15.1%

Percentage of adults currently separated: 1.4%

Percentage of adults currently married: 39.8%

Percentage of adults never married: 38.2%

The data used in this analysis is from the U.S. Census Bureaus 2020 American Community Survey. To determine the most-divorced locations, researchers calculated the percentage of adults currently divorced.

In the event of a tie, the location with the higher percentage of adults currently separated was ranked higher. It is important to note that the category currently married excludes those married but currently separated, and that the percentages dont sum to 100% because the currently widowed percentage is omitted. To improve relevance, only cities with at least 100,000 residents were included.

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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