Our Top 10 Black Crowes Songs list looks at a band that defined the spirit of classic rock with a sound that fell somewhere between the Rolling Stones and Lynyrd Skynyrd. The band arrived on the music scene in 1990 with a sound completely contrasting with the emerging dark sounds of the Seattle music scene. While bands like Nirvana were turning on young people to the doom and gloom of teenage angsts‚ the Black Crowes were attracting an older audience yearning to hold on to the sounds of the Rolling Stones‚ Allman Brothers‚ and even The Beatles. The band’s sound The post Top 10 Black Crowes Songs We Love The Most appeared first on ClassicRockHistory.com.

Our Top 10 Top 10 Tedeschi Trucks Band Songs list focuses on the material released by the Tedeschi Trucks Band over the past ten years. We have been fans of the solo careers of both Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi going back many years. The merger of these brilliant solo talents and the addition of their former band members in forming this fabulous 11-piece group called the Tedeschi Trucks Band has been one of the highlights of the past ten years in the music industry. As of 2024‚ the group released four studio and two smoking live albums. That’s not The post Top 10 Tedeschi Trucks Band Songs appeared first on ClassicRockHistory.com.

A new drinking game is sweeping the British nation—it involves losing money and no drinking. If that sounds farfetched‚ it’s because the game consists of ordering pints and other drinks to people you’ll never meet out of the goodness of your heart—like Italy’s caffe sospesa‚ but with alcohol and in English. Called “Wetherspoons: The Game” the […] The post A New Drinking Game Is Sweeping Britain: Sending Pints to Strangers Across the Nation appeared first on Good News Network.

The post 10 Herbs That Are Safe for Cats (&; Ones to Avoid) Our Vet Answers by Dr. Samantha Devine appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com. It’s natural to want to offer your kitty something from your garden‚ but how do you know what is safe or potentially dangerous for your feline friends? Let’s look at some of the herbs you may have access to that you could let your cat around and some that should be avoided. An Important Note About Herbs Even if an herb is considered “safe” for your cat‚ it could still cause issues like gastrointestinal upset in large quantities. Talk to your veterinarian about anything you’re considering giving your cat because cats with allergies or specific health issues could be more likely to have side effects. It’s also important to understand that we don’t know all about how herbs can affect our cats or their potential benefits. Also‚ just because a product claims to have certain benefits doesn’t mean it will work for your cat. The 10 Herbs That Are Safe for Cats 1. Catnip (Nepeta cataria) Image Credit: snd_nrdc‚ Pixabay Many cats love catnip. You might have even given it to your cat and watched them roll around. It can be an effective attractant‚ helping you get your cat used to items in the house like a scratching pad or litter box. Catnip can be grown indoors or outdoors. Interestingly‚ one study1 found that cats rubbing against plants like catnip and silver bone protected them from mosquitoes. 2. Cat Grass Image Credit: Irina Kozorog‚ Shutterstock Cat grass is often a combination of safe grasses for kitties to munch on or roll around. It is usually a single population or a combination of barley‚ oats‚ wheat‚ or rye. These grasses are generally grown indoors‚ so they don’t contain pesticides or other chemicals that could make your cat sick. Cat grass can be beneficial to your cat for several reasons. It can help move material through your cat’s gut and contains folic acid. Folic acid is especially important in biochemical reactions within your cat’s body‚ such as DNA synthesis and even the production of red blood cells. 3. Basil (Ocimum basilicum) Image Credit: Skitterphoto‚ Pixabay According to the ASPCA‚ an excellent resource for checking if plants are toxic‚ basil is non-toxic for cats and dogs. That means you shouldn’t have anything to worry about if your cat knocks over your basil plant or chomps on a few leaves. Your cat isn’t likely to get major benefits from eating basil‚ but they can get some micronutrients‚ including folic acid. 4. Valerian Root (Valeriana officinalis) Image Credit: gokalpiscan‚ Pixabay Valerian root is safe for cats to consume because it has a wide margin of safety. Like in people‚ it has calming properties. You can find it in a range of calming products for cats. 5. Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) Image Credit: artellliii72‚ Pixabay Milk thistle‚ or silymarin‚ is a commonly recommended supplement for cats and dogs and is considered safe. One of the more commonly recommended supplements in veterinary practices is a milk thistle combination product‚ branded under several names such as Denamarin or Denosyl. Your veterinarian may recommend this supplement if your cat has evidence of liver changes on blood work because it may support liver health and may improve your cat’s elevated liver enzyme values. 6. Echinacea (Echinacea) Image Credit: pixel2013‚ Pixabay While there are limited studies on using echinacea in animals‚ it is a safe and well-tolerated supplement. It may benefit your pet’s immune system and reduce symptoms associated with upper respiratory infections‚ but that information is primarily based on studies in people. 7. Licorice Root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) Image Credit: psaguer‚ Pixabay Licorice root appears safe for pets and has been touted for its numerous health benefits‚ including digestive health. A main ingredient in licorice root is glycyrrhizic acid. This compound may have significant potential in several aspects‚ as it appears to be: Anti-inflammatory Antioxidant Anticancer 8. Dandelion (Taraxacum) Image Credit: PeterDargatz‚ Pixabay Dandelions have long been a popular plant cultivated for medicinal purposes‚ even though many people consider them a weed. There are a variety of species of dandelions‚ but they all appear safe for cats. If you haven’t treated the yard with fertilizers‚ pesticides‚ or other hazardous chemicals‚ these plants are safe for your feline friends to eat outside. 9. Calendula (Calendula) Image Credit: Hans Braxmeier‚ Pixabay Calendula has many names‚ the most common of which is the common marigold. Marigolds are popular as companion plants to help keep pests away from vegetables like tomatoes‚ so you probably have some in your garden already. They’re not considered toxic for cats or dogs‚ so feel free to grow some in your kitty’s herb garden. 10. Marshmallow Root (Althaea officinalis) Image Credit: Nedim Bajramovic‚ Shutterstock Marshmallow root is safe for cats and may provide various potential health benefits. It can coat irritated tissues and has antibacterial activity. In addition to helping with inflammation‚ it may also help regulate your pet’s blood sugar. Herbs and Plants to Avoid Some herbs can be incredibly toxic for your cat and have different side effects. Avoid planting these in your garden if your cat has access to the outside‚ and keep them out of your cat’s reach in the house to keep your feline family member safe. Mint (Mentha species) Image Credit: congerdesign‚ Pixabay Mint contains essential oils that‚ while often beneficial for people‚ are unsafe for cats. According to the ASPCA’s toxic plants list‚ mint can cause vomiting and diarrhea‚ particularly if your cat eats a lot of this herb. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) Image Credit: katerinavulcova‚ Pixabay Lavender is classified as toxic to cats (as well as dogs and horses). While lovely and fragrant‚ this plant can cause gastrointestinal issues in cats‚ ranging from inappetence to vomiting. Allium Species (Allium) Image Credit: Darunrat Wongsuvan.‚ Shutterstock Garlic‚ onions‚ and chives belong to the same plant family‚ as they are Allium species. These plants can cause mild to significant gastrointestinal signs‚ including vomiting. What’s particularly scary is that in cats and dogs‚ they can damage red blood cells and lead to hemolytic anemia‚ which could be life-threatening. If there’s the possibility that your cat could’ve gotten into garlic‚ onions‚ or chives‚ contact your veterinarian immediately. Conclusion Numerous plants are safe for cats to be around‚ and just as many‚ if not more‚ have the potential to be toxic. Before you bring any plants into the house or chop up some herbs to add to your kitty’s dinner‚ ensure they aren’t harmful. Your veterinarian is an excellent source of information to see if supplements or herbal remedies might help your cat‚ especially as some can interfere with more traditional pharmaceuticals. Sources https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abd9135 https://www.hillspet.com/cat-care/nutrition-feeding/cat-grass-safety-and-information https://www.aspca.org/news/rest-easy-getting-facts-pet-safety-and-sleep-aids https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/cats-plant-list https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/echinacea https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9757940/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7132486/   Featured Image Credit: Georgia Evans‚ Shutterstock The post 10 Herbs That Are Safe for Cats (&; Ones to Avoid) Our Vet Answers by Dr. Samantha Devine appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

Rereads and Rewatches  Elantris Reread: Chapters Fifty-Five and Fifty-Six By Paige Vest‚ Lyndsey Luther | Published on January 25‚ 2024 icon-comment 0 Share New Share Twitter Facebook Pinterest RSS Feed More From Elantris Reread See All Posts Rereads/Rewatches Brandon Sanderson Elantris Reread: Chapters Fifty-Three and Fifty-Four By Lyndsey Luther‚ Paige Vest January 18‚ 2024 Comment 2 Rereads/Rewatches Brandon Sanderson Elantris Reread: Chapters Fifty-One and Fifty-Two By Lyndsey Luther‚ Paige Vest January 11‚ 2024 Comment 0 Rereads/Rewatches Elantris reread Elantris Reread: Chapters Forty-Nine and Fifty By Paige Vest‚ Lyndsey Luther January 4‚ 2024 Comment 0 Rereads/Rewatches Brandon Sanderson Elantris Reread: Chapters Forty-Seven and Forty-Eight  By Paige Vest‚ Lyndsey Luther December 14‚ 2023 Comment 0 icon-left-caret Caret See All Posts Greetings and happy Thursday‚ Cosmere Chickens‚ and welcome… ::dramatic chord:: to Part Three. That’s right‚ my fledgling falcons‚ we’ve come down to the final part of the book! Feathers will fly! Fanfare will sound! And Elantris will… rise? Or fall? Only one way to find out (though “fall” would fit my alliterative scheme better)—let’s read on and find out‚ shall we? L: I decided to play around a little bit with the reread today‚ and “respond” to some of Brandon’s annotated comments as if he were here in the reread with us. (We authors are already used to talking to imaginary people in our heads‚ so responding to things that people wrote years ago as if they were in the room with us right now really isn’t all that different‚ right? … Right?) So let’s all welcome Annotation!Brandon to the reread‚ shall we? If it’s fun and we have time to continue doing it‚ we’ll keep doing it for the rest of Part Three. If you guys don’t care for it‚ sound off in the comments and we’ll only sulk a little about it behind the scenes.  (Non-)Spoiler warning: This week’s article has no spoilers from other Cosmere works. Read on fearlessly‚ chickens! Last time on Elantris: FINALLY! During a planning meeting of the resistance‚ it is agreed that the best course of action will be to assassinate Telrii. Sarene picks up on the fact that Kaloo is actually Spirit‚ but when they come back from their little confrontation‚ Ahan is gone… because he’s gone to alert Telrii of the treason happening. Telrii shows up with a bunch of guards and they proceed to stab poor old Roial in the tum-tum‚ at which point Raoden finally FINALLY reveals who he really is‚ much to everyone’s shock. The only person who isn’t terribly happy to hear the news that Kae’s beloved prince has returned from the dead is‚ of course…Hrathen. He stands by‚ helpless‚ as Eondel’s troops arrive and behead the hapless Telrii‚ watching his plans for a “bloodless” takeover of power go up in (literal) flames. Chapter Essentials POV Character(s): Raoden‚ Sarene Discussion L: This week we’re starting off with Part Three‚ “The Spirit of Elantris.”  Essentially‚ everything is resolved in this section except for the really big questions. Who will end up as king? Will Arelon get invaded? Can anything be done to save the Elantrians? Well‚ you’ll just have to read on‚ won’t you?–Annotation‚ Brandon Sanderson L: ::dryly:: Thanks‚ Brandon. Look‚ we didn’t bring you in here from the past to steal our bit from the intro‚ okay? (PAIGE‚ FEEL FREE TO CALL ME OUT ON STEALING FROM THE PAST HERE) P: I’m slightly disappointed that he didn’t say RAFO. Chapter 55 It was against one such stone that Raoden leaned now‚ Sarene pressed close to his side‚ her arms around his waist as they regarded the city. L: Man‚ it’s ABOUT BLOODY TIME. It feels like we’ve been waiting FOREVER for these two to hit it off! After all those little internal speeches of hers about never feeling wanted‚ and never feeling like she was going to find love… This is so‚ so lovely to see. P: Wuv… twu wuv. I’m just glad she wasn’t livid with him for not revealing his identity to her right off the bat. Or any time since.  Sarene lifted her head‚ looking into his eyes. “I can’t believe I didn’t put it together. I was even suspicious about your—meaning Raoden’s—disappearance. I assumed the king had killed you off‚ or at least exiled you.” L: ::narrows eyes:: Now you HAVE told her that you’re still an Elantrian‚ right‚ Raoden? Right? RIGHT? P: Pssh… he’s got to be still wearing an illusion at this point. “They would prefer to believe that I’d died than know that I’d been taken by the Shaod.” L: Thank goodness. Good boy. Now keep up that level of honesty for a change‚ would ya? P: Honesty is VERY IMPORTANT‚ RAODEN! While some of the merchants had decided to cut their losses—moving on to Teod to sell what they could—a surprising number had stayed‚ and their ships were still moored at Kae’s docks. What could have persuaded so many to remain to try and push wares upon a people that just weren’t buying? L: Suspicious. P: Or maybe they were just overly hopeful that things would stabilize under Telrii. Raoden had stayed up late memorizing modifiers. AonDor healing was a complex‚ difficult art‚ but he was determined to make certain no one else died because of his inability. It would take months of memorizing‚ but he would learn the modifier for every organ‚ muscle‚ and bone. L: You have to respect his dedication‚ even if it is impossible to learn as swiftly as he’d like. This would be like someone trying to become an ER doctor in a week. P: It is upsetting that he wasn’t able to save Roial. But he shouldn’t beat himself up for that; he’s only been studying Aons for a short time.  When he finished‚ her hair began to grow. It went lethargically‚ sliding out of her head like a breath slowly exhaled. L: Okay‚ 1: That’s really cool‚ but 2: That’s got to be the WEIRDEST feeling.  P: I felt the same thing about how it would be such a weird feeling. Also made me think of Siri from Warbreaker. I don’t know if you‚ as a reader‚ have been imagining Sarene with short hair since her departure from Elantris‚ but this chapter fixes that. The heroine has her hair back—all is right in the world.–Annotation‚ Brandon Sanderson L: Well‚ not quite all. As we’re about to discover… P: At least all is right with her hair? “This is the face that loved me when it thought I was an Elantrian‚ all rank and title abandoned.” L: Awwww‚ how romantic! He loved her for her… and not only when her rank and title were gone. Her hair was chopped off and her skin damaged‚ so theoretically‚ her beauty was marred as well. With all of those trappings stripped away‚ he fell in love with nothing more (or less) than the person beneath. And that’s real love‚ right there. P: Exactly. He didn’t love her for what she was but who she was. If only more people were like this.  Sarene gasped in horror as Eondel’s and Telrii’s dead faces came into focus. L: Well… honeymoon’s over‚ Sarene. Sorry. P: Poor Eondel. ::sad face:: Chapter 56 “He did it for honor‚ Raoden‚” Sarene said‚ looking up from the despondent Shuden. “Telrii murdered a great man last night—Eondel acted to avenge the duke.” Raoden shook his head. “Revenge is always a foolish motivation‚ Sarene. Now we have lost not only Roial‚ but Eondel as well. The people are left with their second dead king in the space of a few weeks.” L: I hate to say it‚ but Raoden’s right. Telrii was an idiot‚ but killing him accomplished little‚ save for also killing Eondel. An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind‚ and all that. P: And now they’re missing two key allies‚ as well as Eondel’s meager troops. Raoden spoke as a ruler‚ not as a friend. L: As he should.  There’s already a bit of tension between Sarene and Raoden. Nothing big‚ of course–but I think it’s realistic. People don’t always agree. Loving someone doesn’t change the fact that you sometimes think what they’re doing is flat-out dumb. It does‚ however‚ tend to change your reactions. And so‚ Sarene acknowledges that Raoden is acting like a king‚ not a friend‚ and lets the matter drop.Annotation‚ Brandon Sanderson This highlights a difference between the two of them that I have pointed out earlier. Sarene was not raised to rule–Raoden was. That lifetime of preparation has changed the way Raoden sees things; it has made him look at everything in the light of how it effects his people. Actually‚ there is no ‘Raoden the man’ separate from ‘Raoden the ruler.’ They’re tightly integrated. “All right‚ Raoden‚ but not because you order it—but because I trust you. My son may call you king‚ but I accept the rule of no man.” L: Kiin’s a pirate‚ through and through‚ all right. Kiin’s personality all along has indicated how little he regards the titles and authority of other men.Annotation‚ Brandon Sanderson L: Well‚ when you’re used to sailing on the high seas‚ raiding and plundering‚ I guess you don’t have much use for authority other than your own. You get used to relying on your own ship and crew and not much else. P: And when you operate outside the law like that‚ you don’t have much regard for the creator of the law. So‚ this section marked one of the biggest changes to the text during the revision process. In the Mad Prince version of the novel‚ the soldiers who ride up to Kiin’s house were members of the Mad Prince’s army. They arrested Raoden—he went willingly—and tried him for the death of their leader. This took the better part of two chapters‚ and ended with Raoden almost getting beheaded.Annotation Brandon Sanderson L: That’s actually pretty interesting. We haven’t talked at all about the Mad Prince version of the book‚ but in an earlier revision‚ Raoden’s brother Eton is one of the main antagonists. You can learn more about him on the Coppermind entry here‚ or by reading the deleted scene on Brandon’s website here. P: And here‚ I didn’t know anything about this! Noticing Raoden on the roof‚ one of the soldiers urged his horse a few steps closer. “We have heard rumors that Lord Raoden‚ crown prince of Arelon‚ still lives‚” the man announced. “If there is truth to this‚ let him come forward. Our country has need of a king.” L: The fact that Raoden actually goes up to them marks him as a much more trusting person than I would have been in such a situation. But then…he can’t die‚ so… P: But he can experience pain. But yes‚ it was certainly brave of him.  The statement made by choosing the patriarch of Shu-Korath to crown him was an important precedent. L: They’re poking a very large‚ very war-hungry bear‚ here. P: Basically thumbing their noses at Hrathen.  Rumors were widespread that Raoden had been behind the assassination‚ but most of the people didn’t seem to care. Their eyes were dull from the shock‚ and they were beginning to show the wearied signs of extended stress. It will change now‚ Raoden promised them silently. No more questioning. No more uncertainty. We will put forth a united front‚ with Teod‚ and face Fjorden. L: In story-structure terms‚ we call this the “false victory.” The hero thinks that they’ve achieved their goal. The villain is conquered‚ and everything is finally going to be okay. Which makes said villain’s reappearance all the more disastrous‚ of course. P: And the villain’s not even who we would expect it to be. He felt … a power. At first he thought the Dor was attacking. However‚ he realized this was something else—something he had never experienced before. Something external. Someone else was manipulating the Dor. L: And there it is. In our moment of triumph…  P: This is a scary thought. How could a non-Elantrian manipulate the Dor? His eyes fell on a small red-robed form almost invisible among the noblemen. The power was coming from him. L: Dilaf’s here‚ in the crowd. And what is this that he’s done? P: And how?? Without checking‚ Raoden knew that his illusion had fallen. L: The question remains… how? How has Dilaf done this? Yes‚ Dilaf manipulating the Dor is supposed to be a major ‘What the. . . ?’ moment in this book. I’m sorry–I didn’t really give you much foreshadowing on this one. There really wasn’t an opportunity; this isn’t the kind of thing that Dilaf would use very often‚ for fear of betraying his secrets. I think it works‚ however‚ since this scene is actually supposed to be foreshadowing itself. You’ll find out more about Dilaf‚ obviously‚ in the next chapter.Annotation‚ Brandon Sanderson L: Oh‚ well… okay‚ then. Thanks‚ Past!Brandon. P: :: goes to read the next chapter:: A voice came at his side. “Look at him‚ nobles of Arelon!” Sarene declared. “Look at the man who would have been your king. Look at his dark skin and his Elantrian face! Then tell me. Does it really matter?” L: Sarene here to save the day! She doesn’t let the unexpected twist throw her for a loop‚ she just smoothly shifts gears and retains control of the situation.  P: Bless our princess! Soon to be queen! With Seinalan stunned‚ the princess of Teod took his duty upon herself and‚ reaching up‚ placed the crown on Raoden’s head. L: And she does so with aplomb. Look at that! Smooth as silk. Almost as if it were planned. P: It’s somehow fitting for her to crown him. I like it! “They’re finally ready to accept a ruler not because he’s a god or because he has money‚ but because they know he will lead them well.”  In this case‚ hope overcomes fear.Annotation‚ Brandon Sanderson L: What a nice change for them. Of course‚ it’s a fleeting change… P: Yes‚ we do all have most of Part Three to go.  Raoden smiled. “Of course‚ it helps when that ruler has a wife who can deliver a moving speech at precisely the right moment.” L: Boy‚ can she ever… P: They’re so damn cute! “Something’s wrong‚ Sarene. Why did my illusion drop?” “You didn’t do that?”Raoden shook his head. “I … I think that priest did it.” L: The mystery deepens. Until the next chapter‚ anyway. P: I couldn’t wait to solve the mystery! “Find Galladon in New Elantris and tell him what just happened‚” Raoden said. “Then warn him to be ready for something.” “For what‚ my lord?” “I don’t know‚” Raoden said. “Just tell him to be prepared—and tell him that I’m worried.” L: Much like his wife‚ Raoden’s preparing for the worst-case scenario. However‚ I don’t think any of them could be prepared for what’s coming… P: Definitely not. It’s so… well‚ you’ll just have to wait and see what it is! We’ll be leaving further speculation and discussion to you in the comments‚ and hope to join you there! Next week‚ we’ll be back with chapters 57-59. The post  <;i>;Elantris<;/i>; Reread: Chapters Fifty-Five and Fifty-Six appeared first on Reactor.

Are you looking for a lighting solution that is easy to pack and easy to charge? I was‚ so I decided to check out the collapsible LuminAid Titan solar lantern. It’s only $34 at the time of this posting. First and foremost‚ I was not paid for this review.  I bought it thinking it would be a good piece of gear.  And it is.   This is an LED collapsible lantern that can be charged with a small solar panel charger or by USB.  It has four different output levels in both red (tactical!) and white light.  The fifth output is a low-level random blinking-like light. (Which I guess is for maybe a romantic ambiance?) I have no way to measure this‚ but their site says at max power‚ it puts out 150 Lumens with a run time of 8 hours.  On low power‚ 10 Lumens with a run time of 72 hours.  According to their site‚ it is bright enough to illuminate a family-sized tent.  I tried it in my medium-sized bathroom‚ and it did illuminate it enough to be able to do most normal activities‚ but it would have to be closer for fine or small detail activities‚ like removing an eyelash from your eye.   It has a velcro handle with two holes if you want to hang it more securely‚ with 550 cord‚ for example.   What is neat about it‚ it is collapsible into a slim form factor about an inch thick.  Expanded‚ it is about six inches tall.  There is a little plug on the bottom you have to open‚ then twist to expand it into lantern use or collapse it for storage.  When expanded‚ it fills with air to keep its shape (after you close the plug).  Also makes it floatable and it is waterproof.  When you collapse it‚ the air rushes out with a whoosh. The LuminAid Titan solar lantern can charge small devices According to their website‚ it can also charge some small devices like a phone‚ tablet‚ headlamp‚ or camera via a USB cable. To test this‚ I drained my phone down to 8%.  With the Lantern at full power according to the battery status indicator‚ I plugged my phone in.  In two hours‚ it charged my phone to 58% before its battery was drained.  Not a full charge but I thought that was pretty good.  To recharge the LuminAid Titan solar lantern battery via USB took about two hours which made sense.  I have not had an opportunity to test the time to charge from drained to full charge by the solar panel.  Cloudy days.   What are the controls like? As you can see in this picture‚ from left to right‚ the cap to the USB ports.    The power button also changes the output levels‚ starting from the brightest to the lowest or the ambiance mode with each press of the button.   Next to the power button are the red/white light selector buttons.  Note if you switch from the level of the white light to the red‚ it will be at the same level.  Next is the battery status indicator button.  It is also the output button for charging a USB-connected device.   Next is the battery status indicator of four green lights.  One green light is low battery power level‚ four is full power.   The last indicator to the far right is the charging status indicator‚ whether plugged in or charging off the solar panel. If you’re looking for a collapsible solar lantern‚ give this one a try! All in all‚ I was very pleased with this piece of gear. If you are in the market for a collapsible solar lantern‚ you can check out the LuminAid Titan here. It is a really good option. If you don’t care about USB charging‚ they also have this product that is only solar-powered. Have you tried this out before? What did you think of it? Is this an item you feel would be useful in your emergency kit? Let’s discuss it in the comments section. About 1stMarineJarHead 1stMarineJarHead is not only a former Marine but also a former EMT-B‚ Wilderness EMT (courtesy of NOLS)‚ and volunteer firefighter. He currently resides in the great white (i.e. snowy) Northeast with his wife and dogs. He raises chickens‚ rabbits‚ goats‚ occasionally hogs‚ cows and sometimes ducks. He grows various veggies and has a weird fondness for rutabagas. He enjoys reading‚ writing‚ cooking from scratch‚ making charcuterie‚ and target shooting‚ and is currently expanding his woodworking skills. The post REVIEW: The LuminAID Titan Collapsible Solar Lantern appeared first on The Organic Prepper.

President Joe Biden loves to warn the country about the threat of white supremacy‚ and his own administration has launched a soft inqusition into the most patriotic members of society‚ the men and women who volunteer to put their lives on the line for the rest of us. Nearly three years into the Biden administration‚ the Department of Defense belatedly released the results of its in-depth review of domestic violent extremism in the military‚ and most Americans probably have no idea. If the report had revealed even one secret Klansman‚ the legacy media would have trumpeted the results. Instead‚ there have been crickets. Sure‚ the Washington Free Beacon‚ National Review‚ and The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board noted the results‚ but most legacy media outlets have uttered nary a peep about them. Even USA Today‚ which first published the report‚ largely ignored the report’s topline conclusion. Why? The Institute for Defense Analyses‚ the nonprofit the DOD tapped to perform the review‚ finds “no evidence that the number of violent extremists in the military is disproportionate to the number of violent extremists in the United States as a whole.” This contradicts the alarmist narrative about those evil conservatives who join the military to carry out an insurrection. Capitol Riot Involvement Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin directed the military to observe a one-day stand-down to discuss and address extremism on Feb. 5‚ 2021‚ based on reports that some servicemembers took part in the Capitol riot on Jan. 6‚ 2021. He issued a second memo on April 9‚ 2021‚ directing the DOD to counter prohibited extremist activities and launching an independent study on extremist behavior in the military. The institute published that report to little fanfare last month. These and other actions suggested that the military has a problem with extremism‚ and the tie to the Capitol riot suggested that supporters of former President Donald Trump are the problem. Yet the report finds that very few active-duty personnel took part in the Capitol riot on Jan. 6‚ 2021. “Of the more than 700 federal cases in which charges were publicly available a year after these events‚ fewer than ten were for individuals who were serving in the military at the time‚” the report notes. The institute’s analysis of court martial cases finds that “extremist and gang-related activity” appeared in “fewer than 20 cases” since 2012. “If gang cases are excluded‚ the total number of extremist cases amounts to just one case per year over the period studied.” The review also finds that the Uniform Code of Military Justice does not need an “extremism” offense because it already “includes a number of provisions under which the behaviors constituting prohibited extremist activities could be prosecuted.” Such provisions include Article 109 (destruction or damage to property)‚ Article 115 (communication of threats)‚ Article 116 (riot or breath of peace)‚ and Article 128 (assault). Defining Extremism The military has struggled to define extremism without violating rights protected under the First Amendment. The military prohibits certain extremist activities‚ such as supporting the overthrow of the U.S. government‚ encouraging military personnel to disobey lawful orders‚ supporting terrorism‚ advocating unlawful violence‚ and advocating for widespread unlawful discrimination based on race and other factors. Advocating for a true system of white supremacy where non-whites are systematically denied the same rights afforded to whites‚ would fall under advocating widespread unlawful discrimination. A Salient Warning Importantly‚ the institute’s report warns against the DOD overemphasizing the threat of extremism. “DOD has used a wide variety of terms‚ phrases‚ and concepts to describe prohibited extremist behaviors and activities. As a result‚ service members at all levels told the IDA team that they are unaware of or confused about existing definitions and standards‚” the report notes. “In the absence of a clear and consistent message‚ there is a risk that misinterpretations could lead to a significant division in the force along political and ideological lines‚ with some members of the military believing that they are being targeted for their views.” Indeed‚ vague definitions of extremism have sparked alarm among conservative servicemembers who fear‚ based on Biden’s repeated demonization of his political opponents‚ that these efforts against “extremism” may target conservatives for their ideological and political views. As The Daily Signal exclusively reported this month‚ the leader of the Southern Poverty Law Center—an organization that puts mainstream conservative and Christian groups on a “hate map” with chapters of the Ku Klux Klan—bragged about advising the Biden administration on its “domestic terrorism” efforts. That effort included the Department of Defense. The Biden administration has not denied the SPLC president’s claim‚ and multiple Republican senators have expressed alarm at the video. “IDA found reason to believe that the risk to the military from widespread polarization and division in the ranks may be a greater risk than the radicalization of a few service members‚” the report adds. “For this reason‚ IDA’s recommendations focus more on steps that could be taken to address underlying causes of extremist behavior than on punitive responses to such behavior.” Rep. Mike Gallagher‚ R-Wis.‚ argued in a statement that the study’s “conclusions are a serious indictment of Austin’s entire effort‚” which he said cost taxpayers $900‚000. “Yet the damage has been done‚” Gallagher added. “As the report itself acknowledges‚ anecdotal accounts of military participation of events like January 6 ‘magnify the actions of a few and provide little information on the overall scope of the problem.'” He argued that Austin’s actions “have created a false impression with the public that the military has an extremism problem‚ thereby politicizing the Pentagon‚ undermining trust in the military and exacerbating the recruitment crisis with an already skeptical cohort of young Americans.” “In order to stop the politicization of the DOD‚ solve the recruiting crisis‚ and save the all-volunteer force‚ DOD leaders must recommit to excellence in warfighting‚” he concluded. The military should listen to the institute’s advice. In the fiscal year that ended on Oct. 1‚ 2023‚ the Army‚ Navy‚ and Air Force failed to meet recruiting goals‚ military leaders testified to the Senate last month. The Heritage Foundation’s Index of Military Strength‚ released Wednesday‚ finds that “the U.S. military is at significant risk of not being able to defend America’s vital national interests.” (The Daily Signal is The Heritage Foundation’s news outlet.) Perhaps patriotic Americans think twice about signing up when they hear top military brass lecturing the troops about the dangers of “whiteness” and defending classes on “white rage.” Perhaps Americans of all races hesitate to follow the orders of commanders who see “all white people as racist” and promote ideologies that judge people on the basis of race under the rhetoric of diversity‚ equity‚ and inclusion. The Institute for Defense Analyses noted that the Department of Defense “can no more tolerate advocacy of violent extremism in the ranks than it can tolerate racism‚ sexism‚ and discrimination.” Yet it seems discrimination in favor of the Left’s agenda on race too often gets a pass. The Biden administration should learn from this report‚ and stop treating conservatives as some sort of domestic terror threat. The administration’s extremism rhetoric only sends the message that patriots who want to be judged on the content of their character are no longer welcome in the armed forces‚ and that’s a damned shame. Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com‚ and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state.   The post Just How Many ‘Extremists’ Have Infiltrated the US Military? The Media Doesn’t Want You to Know appeared first on The Daily Signal.

The quest by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg to bring World War II to television screens began in 2001 with the premiere of the thrilling HBO miniseries “Band of Brothers‚” a story that was followed by the duo’s Marine Corps-centric follow-up “The Pacific” in 2010. The pair’s much-anticipated third installment‚ “Masters of the Air‚” debuts Friday on Apple TV+ and centers on the actions of the U.S. Army Air Force’s 100th Bomb Group‚ also known as the “Bloody 100th.” As with the earlier series‚ “Masters of the Air” presents camaraderie as a primary driving force behind the Allied victory. The cast‚ as a result‚ had to not only work within the historical framework of the Bloody 100th’s actions‚ but also needed to step into the shoes of the larger-than-life pilots and crew members who took to the skies in B-17 bombers — oftentimes without fighter escorts — on some of the most hazardous missions the U.S. military has ever seen. One such figure was that of 1st Lt. Harry Crosby‚ a navigator who began as an airsick and chronically nervous crew member before rising to the rank of major and completing a full 22 months deployed with the 100th.“I just fell in love with Harry Crosby‚” actor Anthony Boyle told Military Times. “I thought he was the most incredible‚ unique‚ bizarre human being that I’ve ever seen on screen. I just thought‚ ‘God‚ I’d love the play him. I would just love to spend a year with this person.’” Crosby‚ who after the war went on to become a prolific writer and the eventual director of the Harvard University Writing Center‚ serves as the loose narrator throughout the series. To prepare for the role‚ Boyle watched available footage of Crosby‚ who passed away in 2010‚ and was able to speak to his surviving family members.“The last few jobs I’ve done have been real people‚” Boyle said. “It’s interesting when there’s a limited amount about them. When I played Crosby‚ there was a book‚ some chatter about him and a video that I could go off.”In the show‚ Crosby develops a close bond with highly decorated pilot Maj. Robert “Rosie” Rosenthal‚ played by Nate Mann. The duo’s sharing of heartwarming support during some of the darkest moments in the 100th’s history is part and parcel for all three of the Spielberg-Hanks WWII series. The bond that truly carries the show‚ however‚ is one between Maj. Gale “Buck” Cleven and Maj. John “Bucky” Egan‚ played by Austin Butler and Callum Turner‚ respectively. The duo’s on-screen chemistry is electric‚ with Butler’s portrayal of the buttoned-up Cleven often tempering the hot-headed‚ somewhat reckless Egan so perfectly depicted by Turner.“We had two weeks of boot camp that started us off that really built camaraderie with about 120 of us‚” Butler told Military Times. “We’ve learned a lot about each other through that process‚ going through the physical aspects of that‚ and also being in the classroom together.” Cleven and Egan‚ who were roommates in flight school‚ were two of the 100th’s most experienced pilots. Both were shot down during separate missions in October 1943‚ however‚ and ultimately spent the rest of the conflict together as prisoners of war at the German POW camp Stalag Luft III. “It was easy with Callum‚ because he’s one of the greatest guys I’ve ever met‚” Butler added. “We became friends really quickly‚ and that helped with Cleven and Egan.” The POW experience for Cleven and Egan‚ which was tensely portrayed on screen‚ would further solidify their lifelong friendship.Egan stayed in and eventually served in the newly-formed U.S. Air Force‚ deploying later in the Korean War. Egan sadly died from a heart attack in 1961. He was just 45. Cleven also remained with the Air Force‚ serving in Korea and Vietnam before retiring as a colonel in 1955. He died in 2006. Speaking with Military Times‚ show producer Gary Goetzman noted the importance of bringing the unbreakable bonds of World War II to the screen eight decades after they were forged. “You have a story‚ and you have these great people you’re representing‚ and you try to give them great representation by your casting‚ by the settings‚ by the words‚ and you try to honor them — [that] is what we really tried to do‚” he said. For Goetzman‚ this particular portion of the Spielberg-Hanks WWII trilogy was all heart. “It’s a big story‚” Goetzman said. “These are the guys who tenderized the mainland in Europe so our troops could land. We didn’t know what we were doing; we were losing the war. We didn’t get over there until 1943‚ which is quite astounding.” “Masters of the Air” premieres Jan. 26 on Apple TV+. Originally published by Military Times‚ our sister publication.

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