Book Recommendations Young Adult Read an Excerpt From Leanne Schwartz’ To a Darker Shore When her best friend is sacrificed to the devil‚ she’ll go to hell and back for him. By Leanne Schwartz | Published on April 24‚ 2024 Comment 0 Share New Share We’re thrilled to share an excerpt from To a Darker Shore‚ a new young adult fantasy novel by Leanne Schwartz‚ out from Page Street Publishing on April 30th. Plain‚ poor‚ plus-size‚ and autistic‚ Alesta grew up trying to convince her beauty-obsessed kingdom that she’s too useful to be sacrificed. Their god blessed their island Soladisa as a haven for his followers‚ but to keep the devil at bay‚ the church sends a child sacrifice to hell’s entrance every season―often poor or plain girls just like Alesta.With a head full of ideas for inventions‚ Alesta knows her best shot at making it to adulthood is to design something impressive for the festival exhibition so she might win a spot in the university―acceptance could guarantee her safety. But Alesta’s flying machine demonstration goes awry‚ a failure that will surely mean death. What happens is worse: Her best friend and heir to the throne‚ Kyrian‚ takes the blame expecting leniency but ends up sacrificed in her place.To stop the sacrifices forever‚ Alesta plans to kill the monster that killed her friend. Prepared to save her kingdom or die trying‚ she travels to the depths of hell only to find Kyrian―alive‚ but monstrously transformed.There is no escaping hell or their growing feelings for one another‚ and the deeper they descend into hell‚ the closer they come to uncovering a truth about the sacrifices that threatens to invoke the wrath of not only monsters but the gods as well. Chapter One An Unholy Hunger Alesta expected monsters. She grew distracted only a moment‚ watching the terns soar over the bright blue sea‚ wondering how their wings kept them aloft. The birds pulled her gaze along the coast and to the sky. That’s when the branzono must have crept over the low cliff and rocky dunes. It drew up as tall as Alesta on its two legs‚ wicked fins jutting from its calves and back‚ skin pulled taut over wide‚ boney shoulders and too-long arms—green like the headland‚ but the visceral wrongness of it here in Soladisa’s garden paradise turned the warm salt air on her tongue to an acid tang of fear. The monster shambled nearer the grassy stretch of grazing land Alesta’s flock was abandoning with violent bleats‚ more strident warning than the bells up at the Towers. Shaken from her reverie‚ Alesta dodged sheep‚ spooked and scattering and heedless of any bellwether. She raced for the branzono. Herder’s staff in hand‚ skirts flying‚ she cursed herself for having taken her eyes off the ground. Branzonos were a common enough threat‚ especially on this side of the island‚ facing the monster’s rock‚ where the sea was full of them—and worse. She and Nonnina couldn’t afford to lose a single sheep to a monster’s spiny teeth. Wariness of the hunger of monsters lived deep in Alesta’s bones. Wasn’t it the appetite of the greatest devil of them all out on that cursed rock that was devouring Alesta’s hope for any real future&;#63; With a swell of frustration at that reality coursing through her limbs‚ she cracked her staff against the monster’s side before it could reach its claws toward any of the panicked animals. “Oh‚ no you don’t.” Buy the Book To a Darker Shore Leanne Schwartz Buy Book To a Darker Shore Leanne Schwartz Buy this book from: AmazonBarnes and NobleiBooksIndieBoundTarget It gave a strangled scream and clutched at the staff‚ dragging Alesta off-balance. Not easy‚ considering her sturdy build—this thing was strong. She took advantage‚ letting it pull her and throwing all of her weight into the staff‚ driving the creature back on its webbed feet. They both toppled over‚ her crook trumbling from their grasps. Alesta reached for the knife at her belt as she rolled. She twisted over the beast to thrust the blade down‚ aiming for the monster’s shriveled heart. The branzono grabbed her wrist. Against her tan skin‚ the webbing between its long white claws shimmered like seaweed‚ like most of its slimy body. But hell burned in the devil even as it yet dripped with seawater; the leathery hide over its upper arms and shoulders blistered and peeled away from seeping‚ deeper layers of skin‚ even muscle‚ in black-crusted folds. The unholy steam coming off them seared her skin as she strained against the branzono’s hold. The monster stared up at Alesta‚ pale eyes cast with terrible longing‚ vast and vacant as the sky. Just hunger. And she was no one’s meal. Not yet. Not today. Alesta drove her elbow down into the branzono’s chest. It gave a startling crack. The creature swiped out at her wildly with its free hand. Its claws missed her eye‚ thank Hektorus‚ but tore through her hair. Its knuckles bashed against her cheekbone with that monstrous strength. She shouted. But the branzono‚ in greater pain‚ loosened its grip. Alesta pushed the rest of her outrage into her final blow‚ wrapping both hands about her knife’s simple wooden hilt and plunging its blade deep through monster skin and sinew and muscle. She shoved herself back‚ but dark blood spurted from the wound‚ and the wind off the sea carried a mist of it into her face. With a grimace‚ Alesta let herself fall fully into the damp grass‚ chest heaving against her leather bodice’s laces‚ mangled hair sticking to her face with sweat and blood. Which was the perfect moment‚ of course‚ for the future king of Soladisa to find her. His low voice‚ out of breath and raked through with concern‚ came from just behind her. “You all right&;#63;” She tilted her chin to squint up at him. His tall silhouette was nearly lost in the afternoon sun’s sharp beams. “Never better.” He strode to her side‚ careful to avoid where the branzono still twitched‚ and threw out a hand to help her up. She wiped her bloody palm on her overskirt—already stained with grass and dark with sandy earth—before accepting. For a moment‚ her insides pinched with worry that she’d be too heavy for the boy to pull her to her feet without a struggle. Then she was up‚ looking straight into Kyr’s eyes. Holding his hand. She dropped it and wiped her hair from her face‚ trying to smooth it down. The vanity of it made her feel foolish‚ though‚ so she played it off‚ and with the affectation of a lady of the Towers‚ said‚ “By Hektorus’ breath‚ you do meet all sorts out here on the headland.” His concerned face broke into a slight smile. “I hope I’m a more welcome sight than a branzono.” One dimple flickered into existence. “You perfect calamity.” She scrunched her face as if considering his glossy‚ dark curls kissed with golden highlights‚ his long straight nose‚ his strong jaw and sharp cheekbones. Her heart twitched a little‚ like the monster at her feet‚ but she shrugged‚ acting unimpressed. “At least you don’t try to eat my sheep.” His smile—that wide‚ full mouth—turned wry. “Unless Nonnina’s invited me to dinner.” The light in his brown eyes dimmed a little. His voice went flat‚ like it always did when he was being serious. “You need to go to the Arbor at once to be absolved.” His thumb scraped back and forth over the worn embossing of the book he held. She sighed and crouched beside the monster to pull her knife from its stilled chest. One more reason she hated the things. Now she had to trudge up to the Towers and submit to the ministrations of an albero‚ to cleanse her of the killing‚ when she was already so short on time‚ still desperate to think up an invention to present at this year’s Festival of Virtues. Though‚ as long as she had killed this one—“Look at the gills.” She tilted her head and used the tip of her knife to pull one set apart to better see where the skin turned pale and sieve-like. “I wonder if the structure could have applications for cleansing water in the aqueducts&;#63; And this webbing…” She prodded at the skin with her own finger. It stretched easily over her nail. Kyr made a disgusted sound in the back of his throat. “It’s actually translucent‚ but still strong.” “Alesta.” That stopped her. She lifted her gaze from the carcass to Kyr‚ now backlit by the glittering sea like the fractured glass worked into the murals in the Towers’ courtyard walls. “Within the hour of a devil’s dispatching—” he recited at her. His hand left off the book to worry one of the shining buttons on his colorful‚ embroidered jacket. She sucked her teeth. “If I try to haul this home or get cleaned up before going to the Towers‚ you’re just going to get twitchier‚ aren’t you&;#63;” He screwed up his face the same considering way she had‚ then nodded emphatically. “My twitchiest.” Always such a stickler. She slapped her palm to a thigh and blew out a breath as she rose. “Fine. But you’re coming with me.” She sheathed her knife. “Of course. I was on my way to spend the afternoon with you. Here or there.” He shrugged‚ as if it made no difference to him. She knew he was avoiding the Towers‚ though‚ even more than usual. It was a tithing moon. Normally they didn’t pretend with each other‚ not about anything important. But Kyr never wanted to talk about the tithing. He swallowed and held the book out to her. “Brought this for you.” A kindness. Even if he couldn’t admit it aloud‚ they were both aware what was coming in mere weeks‚ and how the threat of each season’s tithing weighed upon some more than others. How frantic Alesta had been growing to prove herself at the festival before this particular axe could fall. Warmth flooded her insides as she took the volume—old enough for Kyr to be passing on to his poor tenant friend‚ so it wasn’t as if her smudged hands could hurt its cracked leather binding. And when she asked him about it‚ as they set off‚ she got to see Kyr’s face light up‚ eyes rounding‚ tan skin aglow. With great sweeps of his hands he told her about the story writ in verse‚ his words coming so fast‚ sometimes they stuttered from his mouth. He paused only when they passed Alesta’s neighbor‚ brought off his field by the commotion of fleeing sheep. Vittore offered to gather and pen them for Alesta while she was absolved. They’d traded favors since she and her grandmother were left to run their farm on their own—Vittore and his children helping with the harvest‚ Alesta fixing his plow and remaking his olive press to be more effective. Not to mention killing branzonos before they could make their way further inland and onto his fields. Kyr fidgeted with a stray thread at the elbow of his jacket until Alesta got moving again. Through rolling green hills and along the edges of orchards‚ they filled their hike up to the city with talk of monster slaying‚ or the wingspan of terns‚ or the latest landscape Kyr had finished painting. As they passed through the cobblestone streets of the city‚ winding closer to the Towers‚ Kyr grew straighter-spined and more reserved. No more animated explanations or questions to Alesta. His hands no longer flew about like birds but trapped one another at the small of his back. Tradespeople nodded to him‚ and he nodded back with precision. The city made its demands upon everyone in its own way. Too soon‚ the front entrance to the Towers loomed before them—an intimidating expanse of granite steps Kyr didn’t hesitate striding up. Alesta forced herself to match his pace. Inside the Towers’ stately halls‚ she wanted to walk to one side‚ off the plush rugs with their elaborate weaves and out of the way of courtiers in their billowing‚ elegant dresses. Yet Kyr walked straight down their center‚ and she stuck beside him. He was used to the place‚ but Alesta’s eyes roved hungrily over the swooping reliefs decorating the stone halls‚ the glittering lamps aglow with eternal-burning kharis. Each carving was like a toehold for her to climb‚ each glint a blade sharpening her ambition. Someday she’d belong here as much as any of these courtiers‚ whose faces beamed as Kyr passed‚ who bowed and curtsied and exchanged brief pleasantries with him as he ushered Alesta through the network of corridors and staircases and courtyards. “My lord Kyrian&;#33;” one dark-haired girl sang out. She waved her fan and elbow in a sinuous greeting. Kyr bowed in return. “My lady Rina.” He made as if to continue down the hall‚ but Rina swished her skirts in front of him and launched into a gleeful recitation of courtly gossip‚ barely stopping for breath. “It’s been ages; you’ve missed so much. And when‚ pray tell‚ are you finally going to paint my portrait&;#63; Our lord Silvio’s recently had his done‚ and the court is all abuzz about it—” “Anytime you wish‚ my lady. Only just now—” “—though you must allow me to tell you what was said about it at our lady Francesca’s dinner last night—” Rina rushed on‚ black eyes twinkling. The daughter of the most powerful clairvoyant of Soladisa and the admiral of its royal fleet‚ Rina looked like she belonged in these halls‚ where every surface and structure had been made into art. Her hair was bound in complex braids‚ with strings of pearls winding through her tresses. Tiny jewels dotted each of her clean‚ polished nails. No calluses marred her silky brown skin. Her full‚ melon-colored skirts fell all the way past her dainty‚ embroidered slippers to the floor‚ because she only ever walked the clean-swept marble tiles and spotless rugs of the Towers. Alesta tugged at her own stained skirts that came to her calves‚ feeling like a child instead of a grown girl of seventeen— one who would not reach eighteen unless she got moving and let the alberos berate and shrive her. Kyr had completed his transformation. As he murmured vague responses to Rina’s litany of minor scandals‚ he matched the other courtiers’ posture‚ mirrored their cultivated gestures‚ mimicked their dulcet inflection. He was always one of the Towers set‚ really‚ but living down the island at his mother’s villa‚ he had spent more time running wild with Alesta than with them. Then King Enzo’s only son was killed by a branzono two years ago‚ and everyone assumed the king would name his eldest nephew his new heir. Kyr’s mother sent him regularly to study alongside his younger cousins living in the noble apartments at the Towers‚ and Kyr had taken it upon himself to learn everything he would need someday to be a proper king. Alesta shifted uncomfortably beside him and Rina. A much different fate awaited her‚ if she didn’t watch out sharp for herself. Earning a place here at the Towers—the seat of Soladisa’s government‚ religion and‚ most importantly‚ university—was the surest alternative‚ but right now‚ feeling frumpish and mussed‚ she wished she were far away. Or invisible. Perhaps Rina had begun Seeing like her mother‚ because she seemed to pick up on Alesta’s embarrassment at that very moment. “Lessie&;#33; It’s such—a pleasure to see you.” Her enthusiastic words slowed the further she got in her greeting‚ as if she were a mechanical doll winding down. Her courtly manners faltered as her eyes roamed over Alesta’s face and clothes. Alesta was used to searching looks‚ even when she wasn’t covered in branzono blood and dirt. Not the appreciative glances some might enjoy‚ but arrested stares. Like she was an abomination and not a girl. Whispers often followed‚ behind her back‚ from certain other youths after weekly chapel—her body showed gluttony and laziness‚ her face could scare monsters away. Always couched in tones of righteous concern for her and her immortal spirit. As if being pretty was a chore Alesta had foolishly neglected. She couldn’t even bash the whisperers with her herding staff unless she wanted the alberos piling more sins at her feet. After all‚ those youths were only echoing the Arbor’s stories of Hektorus blighting those who strayed too near the devil—who shirked their duty to the Arbor and its absolution—and blessing the virtuous with beauty that shone like their goodness‚ making them in his image. She preferred the way most people pretended they didn’t see her at all. Excerpted from To a Darker Shore‚ copyright © 2024 by Leanne Schwartz. The post Read an Excerpt From Leanne Schwartz’ &;lt;i&;gt;To a Darker Shore&;lt;/i&;gt; appeared first on Reactor.

News Jim Henson Idea Man Trailer for Jim Henson Idea Man Documentary Gets Emotional The documentary takes a look at Henson’s life and legacy as the man behind The Muppets By Vanessa Armstrong | Published on April 24‚ 2024 Comment 0 Share New Share There’s a new documentary on Jim Henson set to start streaming on Disney+ in the near future‚ and the Ron Howard production has just released its first trailer. In it‚ we see a lot of footage from Henson’s early years as well as several of his colleagues talking about his boundless imagination. Here’s the official synopsis for the documentary‚ which is called Jim Henson Idea Man: Jim Henson Idea Man takes us into the mind of this singular creative visionary‚ from his early years puppeteering on local television to the worldwide success of Sesame Street‚ The Muppet Show‚ and beyond. Featuring unprecedented access to Jim’s personal archives‚ Howard brings us a fascinating and insightful look at a complex man whose boundless imagination inspired the world. The trailer is a moving one for anyone who has seen and loved one of his creations‚ whether that be Kermit the Frog or any of the Muppets‚ the movie Labyrinth‚ or The Dark Crystal‚ just to name a few. The project’s access to Henson’s personal files is hinted at in the trailer as well‚ with images of a young Henson that few have seen before. The trailer also suggests that the documentary will touch on how things changed when Henson’s popularity grew‚ though it’s not clear how much time will be spent on that versus celebrating his creative mind. We’ll know for sure when Jim Henson Idea Man starts streaming on Disney+ on May 31‚ 2024. Check out the trailer below. [end-mark] The post Trailer for &;lt;i&;gt;Jim Henson Idea Man&;lt;/i&;gt; Documentary Gets Emotional appeared first on Reactor.

The Republican-controlled House of Representatives last Saturday voted 311 to 112 to approve a bill to spend $60.89 billion on aid for Ukraine. Among House Republicans‚ this bill lost 112 to 101. Among House Democrats‚ it won 210 to 0. As of this writing‚ the bill was expected to pass the Senate. President Joe Biden has said he would sign it. (Editor’s note: The Senate on Tuesday night passed the bill‚ and Biden signed it into law on Wednesday morning.) Just two days after the House approved this $60.89 billion in aid for Ukraine‚ the State Department released its 2023 report on human rights in that country. It cited both the Russian military‚ which has invaded Ukraine‚ and the Ukrainian government itself for human rights abuses. “Significant human rights abuses committed by Russia’s forces in areas that were under Russian control involved severe and wide-ranging cases‚” said the State Department report. These included‚ among other abuses‚ “credible reports of: arbitrary or unlawful killings‚ including extrajudicial killings; enforced disappearance; torture and cruel‚ inhuman‚ or degrading treatment or punishment … serious restrictions on freedom of expression and media freedom‚ including violence or threats of violence against journalists‚ unjustified arrests or prosecution of journalists … severe restrictions on religious freedom … and the existence of the worst forms of child labor.” So‚ what happened with human rights in those areas of Ukraine not controlled by Russian forces&;#63; “There were also significant human rights abuses involving Ukrainian government officials‚ although not comparable to the scope of Russia’s abuses‚” said the State Department report. These “included credible reports of: enforced disappearance; torture and cruel‚ inhuman‚ or degrading treatment or punishment; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary arrest or detention; serious problems with the independence of the judiciary; restrictions on freedom of expression‚ including for members of the media‚ including violence or threats of violence against journalists‚ unjustified arrests or prosecutions of journalists‚ and censorship.” The State Department also cited Ukraine for “serious restrictions on internet freedom; substantial interference with the freedoms of peaceful assembly and association; restrictions on freedom of movement; serious government corruption; extensive gender-based violence; systematic restrictions on workers’ freedom of association; and the existence of the worst forms of child labor.” The war‚ of course‚ was partly responsible for the situation in Ukraine. “Some of these human rights issues‚” said the State Department‚ “stemmed from martial law‚ which continued to curtail democratic freedoms‚ including freedom of movement‚ freedom of the press‚ freedom of peaceful assembly‚ and legal protections.” However‚ the State Department report on human rights in Ukraine for 2021—the year before Russia’s invasion—also cited Ukraine for human rights abuses. “Significant human rights issues‚” said that report‚ “included credible reports of: unlawful or arbitrary killings‚ including extrajudicial killings by the government or its agents; torture and cases of cruel‚ inhuman‚ or degrading treatment or punishment of detainees by law enforcement personnel; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary arrest or detention” and “serious problems with the independence of the judiciary.” “The government‚” said that 2021 report‚ “generally failed to take adequate steps to prosecute or punish most officials who committed abuses‚ resulting in a climate of impunity.” The 2023 report on human rights in Ukraine made virtually the same assertion: “The government often did not take adequate steps to identify and punish officials who may have committed abuses.” “Civil society and media noted corruption remained common at all levels in the executive‚ legislative‚ and judicial branches‚ influencing judicial and law enforcement institutions‚ the management of state property and state companies‚ and state regulation‚” said the State Department. The appropriate question for the U.S. Congress is not whether Ukraine and Russia protect human rights. As the State Department’s report makes clear‚ they do not. The question is whether it is in the interests of the American people to involve itself in the conflict between these two nations. George Kennan‚ one of the greatest American diplomats of the last century‚ explained how American foreign policy should and should not work in his 1951 book “American Diplomacy.” It was a chronic mistake in American foreign policy‚ he argued‚ to take a “legalistic-moralistic” approach. “As you have no doubt surmised‚ I see the most serious fault of our past policy formulation to lie in something that I might call the legalistic-moralistic approach to international problems‚” Kennan wrote. “This approach runs like a red skein through our foreign policy of the last fifty years.” “It is the belief that it should be possible to suppress the chaotic and dangerous aspirations of governments in the international field by the acceptance of some system of legal rules and restraints‚” he said. The U.S. Congress cannot control the war in Ukraine or determine its outcome. But in a nation where the federal debt is now $34.59 trillion and federal spending is projected to hit $6.94 trillion in this fiscal year‚ Congress can—and should—turn its attention to ending the deficit spending and bringing down that debt. COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM The Daily Signal publishes a variety of perspectives. Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of The Heritage Foundation. The post Ukraine Has ‘Significant’ Human Rights Abuse Issues‚ State Department Reports appeared first on The Daily Signal.

FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—A high school theater troupe is staging the risque musical “Kinky Boots” just outside the nation’s capital “in collaboration” with a leading Virginia school system’s “Pride” programs‚ prompting concern and questions from some parents. The Beyond the Page Theatre Company at West Potomac High School in Alexandria‚ Virginia‚ will perform “Kinky Boots” eight times between Thursday and May 4‚ according to emails obtained by The Daily Signal. A “drag brunch” and a “talk back” session on the need for more “LGBTQ+ plays/musicals” are scheduled in connection with the production‚ spurring concern among parents. In a letter Tuesday to the high school’s principal‚ parents wrote that “it is our belief that such content does not belong on school property‚ especially when it involves minors.” The 2013 Broadway musical “Kinky Boots” tells the story of a struggling shoe factory owner who partners with a local drag queen to save the factory by dressing all of the male employees in drag for a show.  An email from the West Potomac Theatre Boosters does warn that the musical‚ a collaboration between pop singer Cyndi Lauper and actor-playwright Harvey Fierstein‚ “contains strong language and mature content.” The eight performances of “Kinky Boots” aren’t the only planned events. A “Talkback [sic] with FCPS Pride”—or Fairfax County Public Schools Pride—is scheduled Saturday to “explore the significance of producing LGBTQ+ plays/musicals‚ delve into drag history‚ and explore ways to support the LGBTQ+ community.” And on May 4‚ a “drag brunch” will be held before the 1 p.m. show‚ featuring “some of D.C.’s most fabulous performers: Dixie Crystal‚ Pirouette‚ and Orpheus Rose.” Fairfax County Public Schools serves just under 180‚000 students in northeastern Virginia‚ just across the Potomac River from Washington‚ D.C. Some local parents are outraged by the staging of “Kinky Boots” at a high school and voiced “strong objection” to both the content of the musical and the associated events in a letter Wednesday to Jessica Statz‚ principal of West Potomac High School‚ which includes grades 9 through 12. They wrote: We understand that artistic expression comes in various forms‚ but we must tactfully express our view that ‘drag’ is not merely an art form but often associated with adult entertainment and‚ in some contexts‚ sex work.  Therefore‚ it is our belief that such content does not belong on school property‚ especially when it involves minors. Some Fairfax County parents also asked that Statz clarify any minimum age to attend the musical and associated events; requirements for parental accompaniment and parental notice; and the educational value and financial cost of the musical. Some parents also want to know whether Fairfax County Public Schools has completed background checks of the drag performers. The school system’s policy requires background checks for adult volunteers who are in contact with children. Fairfax County Public Schools‚ West Potomac High School‚ and Statz did not respond to The Daily Signal’s requests for comment before time of publication.  Shelly Arnoldi‚ one of the parents who signed the letter of protest to the principal‚ described the production of “Kinky Boots” and the associated events as “glamorizing sex work.” Drag shows‚ in which men wear women’s makeup and clothing (often lingerie) and sing or dance in a sexually provocative manner‚ have been a form of adult-oriented entertainment as long as it has existed. In 2015 in San Francisco‚ however‚ many LGBTQ+ activist groups began arguing that drag is an essential part of “expression.” Those first readers at “drag queen story hours” claimed they wanted to make reading to children less “heteronormative.” The encouragement of inherently sexual drag shows open to minors by LGBTQ+ activist groups has stirred national outrage and condemnation‚ especially after incidents in which performers behaved sexually in front of or directly to underage children. In 2022‚ a drag queen gyrated next to a small girl while singing derogatory‚ sexual lyrics at a drag event for “all ages” in Texas. Also that year‚ a nearly naked drag queen at an “all ages” drag brunch in Miami paraded a young girl around a restaurant full of cheering patrons.  And last year‚ a North Carolina community college increased the age requirement for attending drag shows after a drag queen straddled a minor at a campus event. A Wisconsin drag queen‚ a member of the anti-Catholic group Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence‚ was arrested in February and charged with four counts of exploiting a child and four counts of possessing child pornography. “Drag by definition is sexual‚” Arnoldi‚ one of the parents protesting the production‚ told The Daily Signal. “They wouldn’t do a show on a girl being a stripper—that wouldn’t be appropriate either.” Opposing the staging of “Kinky Boots” at a high school “isn’t about being gay or straight‚” she said. “This is about normalizing the sex business to minors.” The post EXCLUSIVE: Parents Question Why Virginia High School Staging Drag Musical‚ Brunch appeared first on The Daily Signal.

California’s list of public policy failures was already long‚ but hiking its minimum wage to $20 an hour for fast-food workers may belong at the top. The predictable fallout in lost jobs and higher prices are already being felt‚ and the flood of residents fleeing the state is poised to accelerate. California is already home to some of the highest taxes and costs of living in the country‚ the consequences of failed government policies. A higher minimum wage is more of the same. Consider California’s “green” energy policies‚ which have created the highest utility rates in the nation. Instead of rolling back those mandates‚ the state created a new one: surcharges on utility bills‚ making the middle class pay more even if they don’t use more. The overtaxing‚ overspending‚ and overregulating by the state government in Sacramento has turned California into such a basket case that 1.2 million more people left the state than moved in over the past three years—by far the biggest loss of any state and beating New York by 35%. Californians clearly don’t like the effects of these policies‚ but they just got more of them with the higher minimum wage law for fast-food workers. This particular policy provides a superb example of how disastrous economic ideas become law: wonderful rhetoric‚ terrible results. The law was advertised as forcing “greedy” corporations to pay workers a “living wage.” But businesses aren’t charities and can’t pay employees more than they produce or they’ll go bankrupt. Employers pay taxes and other costs on top of an employee’s earnings; at $20 an hour‚ many fast-food workers don’t provide enough value to justify the highest minimum wage in the country. Not surprisingly‚ California’s fast-food companies have frozen hiring. Some are already announcing mass layoffs. This is not a small cohort of workers: California is‚ at least for now‚ home to half a million fast-food workers. That number is already dropping and is set to plunge soon. McDonald’s has been investing millions of dollars in fully automated restaurants and opened the first such restaurant last year. Jack in the Box and El Pollo Loco‚ the Mexican chicken chain‚ both announced that they’ll use robotics to fully automate cooking and cashier functions. The machines are cheaper than employing people at artificially inflated wage rates‚ plus the additional costs such as training‚ payroll taxes‚ and vulnerability to lawsuits‚ thanks to lawyer lobbies. Where fast-food workers can’t be replaced‚ their jobs effectively will be outsourced. About 1‚100 Pizza Hut delivery drivers are set to lose their jobs‚ with more layoffs announced at another restaurant chain‚ Round Table Pizza. Consumers will have to use food delivery apps (also being targeted by California’s notorious legislation‚ AB 40)‚ or they’ll have to pick up their orders themselves. Apologists claim that corporations are just posturing and won’t really lay off thousands of workers. That thinking is largely made possible by the fact that many politicians never have run a business‚ had to make payroll‚ or hired minimum-wage workers. In short‚ advocates of the $20 minimum wage don’t understand the impact of the policy they’re pushing. All the politicians know is that it’s a reliable vote winner—even if it throws low-wage workers under the bus not once‚ but twice. Hiking the minimum wage causes job losses‚ but it also increases prices. Because lower-income folks disproportionately eat at fast-food restaurants‚ they bear the brunt of these higher costs‚ in addition to losing their jobs. A minimum wage of $20 an hour is really a state ban on any job that pays less than $20. Californians in that category either must go somewhere else where such work is still legal‚ work illegally “under the table‚” or rely on welfare. But the insanity doesn’t end there. The law also creates a Fast-Food Council that can raise the minimum wage for fast-food workers by another 3.5% per year‚ every year‚ until no fast-food workers are left standing. California will continue to hemorrhage residents‚ and that rate of outmigration likely will accelerate as politicians target low-income workers with wage mandates and inflation. Eventually‚ all those willing to work will leave. The only ones left will be those on the state’s bloated welfare rolls.  The Golden State is killing the goose that laid its golden eggs. Originally published by Fox Business The post Latest Job-Killing Policy Spells More Bad News for Californians appeared first on The Daily Signal.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties‚ subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel appeared as a strong ally for Elon Musk‚ the owner of X‚ amid pressure from the Australian government for Musk to implement censorship on the global platform. The bishop has been outspoken against the eSafety Commissioner’s choice to censor videos and speech on X. The bishop maintains that Musk should continue allowing the video to remain accessible on X. “He’s strongly of the view that the material should be available‚” X’s counsel‚ Marcus Hoyne‚ disclosed at a Federal Court hearing. This legal dispute is unfolding at the same time as X fortifies its fight against the eSafety Commission’s contentious directive by hiring prominent Sydney barrister‚ Bret Walker‚ SC. As X puts up a formidable resistance‚ the Australian public cast their interests in the corporate actions that X has been taking to defend their rights to information. A hearing has been arranged by Federal Court Justice Geoffrey Kennett to address the controversy surrounding the removal of videos portraying the stabbing at a church in western Sydney. X representative Hoyne‚ pointed out the potential for drawn-out and intricate discussions‚ underlining the worldwide implications of the Australian government’s attempt to regulate online content. The post Bishop Backs Musk: Stabbing Victim Stands Against Censorship in Australia appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties‚ subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Australia’s Prime Minister‚ Anthony Albanese has endorsed social media censorship of satirical memes about him. Albanese insinuated that social media platforms are duty-bound to suppress the so-called “misinformation” present on their sites. Albanese noted‚ “I noticed today‚ for example‚ on the way up here that they removed various sites that were up containing fake images of myself superimposed on other people. That’s just the sort of thing that’s going on on social media. Social media has a responsibility to do the right thing here.” Display content from Twitter Click here to display content from Twitter. Learn more in Twitter’s privacy policy. Always display content from Twitter Open content directly X has initiated a legal challenge against the Australian government following an unprecedented court order mandating global content censorship. This move comes after the Australian Federal Court ordered X to block worldwide access to posts showing a violent stabbing in a Sydney church‚ despite X already geo-blocking the content within Australia​. Musk has openly criticized the Australian government‚ accusing it of attempting to impose censorship on a global scale. He argues that such court orders set a dangerous precedent‚ allowing any country to exert control over the entire internet. This approach threatens the foundational principles of free speech and the open internet‚ undermining users’ rights to access information from around the world. The court’s decision has sparked debate about the role of governments in regulating online content and the broader implications for freedom of expression. Musk’s stance resonates with those who believe in the importance of a free and open internet‚ where content can be accessed and shared without undue interference from government authorities​. The post Australian PM Calls For Crackdown on Memes About Himself appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties‚ subscribe to Reclaim The Net. Sign Up To Keep Reading This post is for Reclaim The Net supporters. Gain access to the entire archive of features and supporters-only content. Help protect free speech‚ freedom from surveillance‚ and digital civil liberties. Join Already a supporter&;#63; Login here The post An Open-Source‚ Self-Hosted Music Streaming Service appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

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