Although pork and beef are some of the most popular meats for modern humans‚ it’s easy to wonder if the same could be said when we couldn’t just pop to the supermarket to pick them up. Researchers previously thought that humans in the Middle Pleistocene stuck to hunting and eating large mammals – but a recent study has revealed a far smaller‚ somewhat unexpected item on the menu: beavers.In examining the bones of at least 94 beavers from 400‚000 years ago‚ excavated from the Bilzingsleben site in Germany‚ a team of archaeologists uncovered what they described in their paper as “systematic exploitation of beavers” by humans at this time. Under magnifying glasses and digital microscopes‚ the beaver bones showed signs of cut marks made by stone tools‚ something of an unusual find. "Until now‚ cut marks on Palaeolithic beaver bones had been identified very rarely and on isolated bones only‚” said Sabine Gaudzinski-Windheuser‚ one of the study’s authors‚ in a statement.The distribution of the cut marks suggests that humans may have targeted beavers for both their skins and as a source of meat. As for why they took to eating them‚ it might have something to do with these rodents’ characteristic rotundness. Fat was a pretty important food resource during the Pleistocene and the beaver remains largely belonged to young adults – fully grown and fat-rich‚ but not yet experienced in dealing with threats‚ making them an ideal target for hunters.The study’s findings contradict the previous assumption that humans had a relatively narrow diet until later on in the Pleistocene. "Until now‚ it was generally thought that people in Europe fed primarily on large game until around 50‚000 years ago‚ and that this was an important difference to the more flexible dietary strategies of modern humans‚” said Gaudzinski-Windheuser. “We have now demonstrated that the hominin food spectrum was much broader much earlier."Gaudzinski-Windheuser also had an explanation for why it may have seemed as though early humans hunted mainly larger animals‚ such as bovids and rhinoceroses. "The remains of large mammals from this period are generally much better preserved than those of small ones‚ not to mention plant remains‚” said the researcher.Modern humans are also starting to explore some more unusual food choices on the particularly small side – you might find a bug-based meal on your plate at some point in the near future.The study is published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Some concerning changes are impacting the waters around Bermuda. After 40 years of tracking‚ scientists have noticed that the Atlantic Ocean surrounding the archipelago is warming and losing oxygen‚ as well as becoming increasingly salty and acidic.Researchers have been keeping track of the water around Bermuda since 1983‚ taking monthly samples to assess the physics‚ biology‚ and chemistry of the ocean's surface and depths.Known as the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study (BATS)‚ the latest findings of the project show that the ocean water surrounding the islands in the 2020s is almost unrecognizable from the range seen in the 1980s."We show that the surface ocean in the subtropical North Atlantic Ocean has warmed by around 1°C [33.8°F] over the past 40 years. Furthermore‚ the salinity of the ocean has increased‚ and it has lost oxygen. In addition‚ ocean acidity has increased from the 1980s to the 2020s‚" Professor Nicholas Bates‚ an ocean researcher at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences and professor in the School of Ocean Futures at Arizona State University‚ said in a statement.Just as you might expect‚ these shifting conditions are likely harming the biodiversity of the area. The past four decades have seen oxygen levels drop by 6 percent‚ which is not good news for aquatic organisms. Likewise‚ acidity levels have increased by 30 percent‚ which also affects animal health‚ such as the ability of organisms to sustain their shells.A scientist on the BATS team collecting data on the research vessel Atlantic Explorer.Image credit: Jeff NewtonBermuda is a British Overseas Territory in the North Atlantic Ocean‚ made up of nearly 200 islands and located around 1‚770 kilometers (1‚100 miles) from the coast of Miami. It’s perhaps best known for the Bermuda Triangle‚ a region of sea southwest of the islands which some claim has been responsible for a suspiciously high number of aircraft and boats disappearing under unexplained circumstances. However‚ hard statistics and evidence-based investigations suggest that tales of the Bermuda Triangle are little more than an urban legend. Rest assured‚ these latest changes to the sea around Bermuda won’t be increasing the odds of mystery disappearances either.It does‚ however‚ highlight how many of the world’s oceans are facing drastic change in the wake of the deepening climate crisis. Similar observation stations can also be found near Hawaii‚ the Canary Islands‚ Iceland‚ and New Zealand. The researchers explain that all of them are seeing similarly worrying changes in regard to warming‚ salinification‚ and ocean acidification.“These observations give a sense of the rate of change in the recent past of ocean warming and ocean chemistry. They provide key indications of future changes in the next decades. They also are proof of regional and global environmental change and the existential challenges we face as individuals and societies in the near future‚” explained Bates.The new study is published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science.

A gorgeously garish species of orchid‚ known to the Indigenous Tsou people as the “God Flower”‚ is rapidly disappearing from the mountainous wildlands of Taiwan. Just like the plight of countless other flowering plants around the world‚ some suspect that climate change is the prime suspect.Also known as the Dendrobium orchid or golden grass orchid‚ the plant boasts a bright yellow flower with a rich orange-fringed center. It was once found in abundance across Taiwan‚ but the Tsou are now being forced to trek further and further into the mountainous forests of Alishan Township to find the flower‚ the BBC reports.The flower plays a significant role in the culture and spiritual beliefs of the Tsou‚ making its apparent demise all the more poignant. "My tribe has to have the God Flower for our ceremonies. Otherwise‚ God won't be able to find us‚" tribal elder Gao Desheng told the BBC.The orchid is also closely associated with the Tsou’s war god. An Xiao-Ming‚ another Tsou person‚ explained: "It is said that the God Flower surrounds the habitat of this deity. These flowers are placed on the roofs of Kuba‚ signifying the presence of the divine.”For the plant's buds to successfully bloom in spring‚ temperatures in winter should ideally be below 12°C (54°F). As a result of climate change‚ temperatures in the region are rising above this seasonal threshold. The average November temperature in Alishan is currently around 12 to 14°C (54 to 57°F) and that’s expected to rise to 14 to 16°C (57 to 61°F) by 2050 if current trends continue. This important plant isn’t the only flower set to suffer as the climate crisis continues. Rising temperatures are set to alter the world's flowering plants in a myriad of ways.Many flowers are now blooming earlier than before due to rising temperatures. Among plants in the UK‚ the average first flowering date is a full month earlier than in the past. Over in Japan in 2021‚ climate change was thought to be responsible for the earliest cherry blossom season in some 1‚200 years. Oddly‚ research has also indicated that flowers are changing their colors in response to climate change. Faced with rising temperatures and declining ozone over the past 75 years‚ flowers across the world are altering ultraviolet pigments in their petals.As well as early blooms and changing colors‚ flowers are becoming more abundant in places where they were once scarce‚ such as the frigid coasts of Antarctica. Overall‚ however‚ it’s looking like the planet of the future could be significantly less flowery than in previous centuries. Recent research has shown that climate change is likely to make life much harder for wildflowers. This could reduce the number of helpful pollinators like bees and‚ in turn‚ threaten food security.  

A West Virginia man claims to have found evidence of Bigfoot in a muddy patch of land in Ritchie County. Chuck Headley posted photos of a large five-toed footprint on the Bigfoot Believers Facebook group‚ sparking a heated debate among the members. The mysterious print‚ which was spotted in Ritchie County‚ West Virginia‚ had the outline of five stumpy toes and seemed to show that the beast had strolled out of a small body of water. However‚ not everyone was impressed by Headley’s discovery. Some users on the Facebook group questioned why there was only one footprint and no other signs of the creature’s presence. They suggested that the footprint could have been made by another animal or even faked by someone. “Why only one print?” one user wrote. “Why is there always only ONE footprint? What? Bigfoot only hops on one foot then lands a mile away?” The global fascination with Bigfoot dates back to 1967‚ when footage emerged in the Six Rivers National Forest. The renowned “Patterson-Gimlin” footage‚ a three-minute‚ grainy clip‚ showcased a hairy creature moving through the woods‚ marking the purported first-ever filming of Bigfoot by adventurers Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin. Despite the intrigue surrounding Bigfoot‚ experts generally dismiss claims of its existence as lacking credibility. The prevailing consensus among specialists is that belief in the existence of this large‚ ape-like creature is more likely a result of hoaxes or confusion rather than legitimate sightings of an actual creature. The post West Virginia man finds ‘Bigfoot’ footprint in mud appeared first on Anomalien.com.

In the captivating realm of oceanic life‚ a remarkable event unfolds‚ showcasing the intelligence and adaptability of marine creatures. The video presents a thrilling encounter between a coconut octopus and blacktip sharks. This narrative delves into the ingenious survival tactics of the octopus‚ aided by an unexpected ally‚ revealing the intricate dynamics of underwater life.... The post Spy octopus helps real one hide from sharks and gets sweetest ‘thank you’ in return appeared first on Animal Channel.

An annoyed Seth Meyers reacted to the Wednesday GOP presidential debate on the Thursday edition of Late Night on NBC by claiming that “no one gives a [bleep]” and that the four debaters were all a bunch of “blowhards.” Citing current polling‚ Meyers wondered what the whole point was before sarcastically conceding that maybe he should give the non-Trump candidates some credit‚ “Now‚ in fairness‚ I shouldn't be so glib I may disagree with these people‚ but they've stepped up to take on the responsibility of leadership‚ and who knows? Maybe there's a chance they'll beat Trump and become the nominee. So‚ I do think we should at least listen to what they have to say.”     Meyers then played a clip of Megyn Kelly opening the broadcast‚ “Welcome to the fourth and final—” but Meyers cut the clip short‚ “Just kidding. No one gives a [bleep].” Claiming his dismissal was justified‚ Meyers continued‚ “Why should I-- why should I act like any of these people are actually running against Donald Trump when they won't even act like they're running against Donald Trump. They spent the whole debate fighting with each other like pigeons fighting over a French fry in the parking lot of a restaurant that is owned by a much bigger pigeon. In case you missed it -- sorry because you missed it‚ here's a quick recap of all these dweebs taking shots at each other.” Meyers then played an extended montage of the more rambunctious‚ but not necessarily substantive portions of the debate concluding with Chris Christie labeling Vivek Ramaswamy a “blowhard.” Coming out of the montage‚ Meyers added‚ “Hey‚ everyone break it up‚ there's no need to fight. You're all obnoxious blowhards. And yet based on the polls‚ your problem is‚ you don't blow hard enough although.” Of course‚ Republican candidates are going to try to tailor their message in a way that appeals to Republican voters and running around sounding like Seth Meyers is not the way to victory. Here is a transcript for the December 7-taped show: NBC Late Night with Seth Meyers 12/8/2023 12:41 AM ET SETH MEYERS: Now‚ in fairness‚ I shouldn't be so glib I may disagree with these people‚ but they've stepped up to take on the responsibility of leadership‚ and who knows? Maybe there's a chance they'll beat Trump and become the nominee. So‚ I do think we should at least listen to what they have to say. MEGYN KELLY: Welcome to the fourth and final –  MEYERS: Just kidding. No one gives a [bleep]. Why should I-- why should I act like any of these people are actually running against Donald Trump when they won't even act like they're running against Donald Trump.  They spent the whole debate fighting with each other like pigeons fighting over a French fry in the parking lot of a restaurant that is owned by a much bigger pigeon. In case you missed it -- sorry because you missed it‚ here's a quick recap of all these dweebs taking shots at each other.  … MEYERS: Hey‚ everyone break it up‚ there's no need to fight. You're all obnoxious blowhards. And yet based on the polls‚ your problem is‚ you don't blow hard enough although.

To the ongoing celebrations of Norman Lear’s life and achievements‚ I would like to add a modest tribute of my own. It is Mr. Lear‚ who died Tuesday at 101‚ to whom I owe my initial education in the mysteries and mechanics of procreation. It happened when I was 9 years old. One Friday evening‚ my younger brothers and I waited for my father‚ late again to pick us up for our regular‚ court-mandated every-other-weekend visit. As usual‚ we whiled away the time watching whatever happened to be on our pre-cable‚ 12-channel TV — in this case a rerun of Lear’s most famous show‚ “All in the Family.” Norman Lear realized television’s potential for social commentary with the help of actors and writers nimble enough to pivot from comedy to drama and back again. What we saw‚ which I can now report was a scene from the late season seven episode “Gloria’s False Alarm‚” filled us with incredulous mirth: a man with a droopy mustache and his hysterical blonde wife in urgent discussion over whether or not he should have his penis removed. At least‚ that’s what we concluded a “vasectomy” was‚ judging by the gravity with which they approached this apparently life-altering‚ irreversible procedure. We continued to ponder this during the 90-minute drive to our father’s house until he finally asked us what all our furtive‚ backseat sniggering was about. Our stunningly misinformed answer must have suggested to him that he had been derelict in yet another paternal duty. He spent the rest of the ride gently but efficiently filling us in on everything we needed to know about sex. That evening’s edifying discourse was no doubt only one of many frank conversations enabled by “All in the Family” and the new era of television it ushered in. Certainly‚ our other syndicated favorites like “The Brady Bunch‚” “Leave It to Beaver‚” or “Gilligan’s Island” offered nothing so thought-provoking. All of the hot buttons We take it for granted now‚ but television’s long journey to respectability began with the creative and commercial risks Lear took with his very first show as producer. In 1971‚ it was far from obvious that the blustering‚ blue-collar bigot named Archie Bunker would last a few weeks‚ let alone endure as one of the medium’s most iconic characters. ABC had passed on “All in the Family” twice‚ and when CBS finally aired the pilot‚ the network prefaced it with a timid disclaimer: “Warning: the show that you are about to see is ‘All in the Family.’ It seeks to throw a humorous spotlight on our frailties‚ prejudices‚ and concerns. By making them a source of laughter‚ we hope to show — in a mature fashion — just how absurd they are.” The audience was ready for something more daring‚ even if executives weren’t. The show became a hit‚ in part because of its willingness to violate unspoken taboos. The fifth episode featured the first gay character on a sitcom‚ and the sixth centered on Archie’s daughter Gloria’s miscarriage. Subsequent installments would address rape‚ the Vietnam War‚ menopause‚ and a sort of proto trans-bashing. The “All in the Family” spin-offs Lear developed gave him even more latitude to address hot-button topics ranging from abortion and alcoholism (“Maude”) to busing and gang violence (“Good Times”). Even the more conventionally lighthearted “The Jeffersons” broke new ground by featuring an affluent black family (an idea Lear claimed was suggested by members of the Black Panthers who once visited him on set). Hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons would later say George Jefferson was the first black man he ever saw write a check. Lear realized television’s potential for social commentary with the help of actors and writers nimble enough to pivot from comedy to drama and back again. His many imitators weren’t always up to the task. Thus the rise in the 1980s of the dependably ham-fisted “very special episode‚” which by turns ambushed unsuspecting young viewers with the confusing spectacle of Gary Coleman and friend “playing Tarzan” with the leering neighborhood bike shop owner (“Diff’rent Strokes”) and forever linked a certain Pointer Sisters hit with Elizabeth Berkley’s enthusiastic if unconvincing portrayal of caffeine pill-induced psychosis (“Saved by the Bell”). A complicated entertainment legacy It’s indisputable that Lear changed television. Those of us who prefer our laughs straight up might say it was for the worse. But if you blame Lear for the sitcom’s fall from the heights of the disciplined professionalism of “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and “I Love Lucy‚” then you must also award him partial credit for one of the form’s universally acknowledged triumphs: “Seinfeld” was arguably a reaction to all of the earnest treacle that preceded it. And aren’t Lear’s unabashedly flawed characters the ancestors of prestige TV’s beloved antiheroes? Without Archie Bunker‚ would we ever have Tony Soprano? This connection makes sense‚ but it also reveals a certain hollowness at Archie Bunker’s core. Compared to Tony‚ an Italian-American Catholic from New Jersey deeply and painfully rooted in his family and community‚ Archie is a blank. He speaks of his father once (he was mentally and physically abusive). In the pilot‚ we learn he got his union dockworker job through his uncle. He has anywhere from one to three brothers‚ depending on the episode. While he belittles white ethnics like his “Polack” son-in-law Michael just as eagerly as he does Jews and blacks‚ he seems to have no heritage of his own. Is he English? The surname “Bunker” would make this a decent guess‚ if Archie weren’t on record dismissing England as a “fag country.” Perhaps his lineage goes back to some distant Bünker from Germany. But wouldn’t that make him what he terms “a Kraut”? Archie’s a Christian‚ but there is something off about that identity as well: a working stiff from outer-borough New York is an Episcopalian? It’s true that the Episcopal Church’s well-known 1960s liberal turn gives Archie yet another target — when we first meet him‚ he’s arguing with his wife‚ Edith‚ about the bleeding-heart sermon he just interrupted at the Sunday service. But I suspect assigning him to such a notoriously mild and “respectable” denomination serves the same purpose as obscuring his origins. For Archie to hate and fear as many types of people as possible‚ he needs to be an utterly generic WASP (minus the economic and social privilege)‚ with just enough religion to fly into a rage when his daughter and son-in-law hint at their atheism but not enough to challenge his allegiance to anything more specific than “American values.” Archie Bunker in the 'Age of Trump' Archie’s all-encompassing resentment made him an ideal foil for enlightened progressives‚ both in the show and in the audience. If Lear made no apologies for how wealthy his work made him‚ neither was he one to dismiss what he did as mere entertainment. He embraced his role as a progressive gadfly until the end of his life. In response to the 1980 election of Ronald Reagan and the simultaneous ascent of the Christian right‚ Lear founded the left-wing advocacy group “People for the American Way.” The organization’s “achievements” over its 42-year history include helping tank Robert Bork’s Supreme Court nomination‚ trying to tank Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination‚ deplatforming Alex Jones‚ and thwarting the HGTV career of filmmakers and real estate entrepreneurs Jason and David Benham. Lear originally wrote Archie to be hated. It’s a testament to the talent and skill that he and his collaborators brought to “All of the Family” that the character broke free of his creators. Like many on the left‚ Lear found renewed purpose in Donald Trump’s unthinkable 2016 election victory. Lear’s selection for the 2017 Kennedy Honors‚ which traditionally include a reception at the White House‚ allowed him to combine a victory lap with a public Orange Man snub. When a live production of an old “All in the Family” episode (with Woody Harrelson as the paterfamilias) earned Lear an Emmy nomination on the day after his 98th birthday‚ he took it as one more opportunity to express his disdain for the now struggling commander in chief. Amidst the thanks‚ Lear and his producing partner‚ Brent Miller‚ couldn’t resist noting that his late-career triumph “aired the night of Trump’s impeachment‚” while hastening to add: “With 98 days left until the election‚ and the day after one of us turned 98‚ it all seems so poetic.” This launched something of a birthday tradition for Lear. He marked turning 99 by reflecting on voting rights in the “Age of Trump” in the Washington Post.” For his centennial‚ he went with the New York Times: Archie Bunker “probably would have been a Trump voter‚” Lear wrote of his most famous creation‚ “but I think that the sight of the American flag being used to attack Capitol Police would have sickened him.” We will never know. Nostalgic revivals aside‚ it’s hard to imagine the likes of Archie Bunker getting a sympathetic ear in today’s polarized media landscape. Watching old YouTube clips of the character‚ it’s easy to forget his original purpose as leftist propaganda. The shocking ease with which Archie utters unsayable words and exposes his deepest‚ most incriminatingly human thoughts is hilarious‚ yes‚ but it also evokes a distant past when we could all be a little more honest with each other. Lear originally wrote Archie to be hated. It’s a testament to the talent and skill that he and his collaborators brought to “All of the Family” that the character broke free of his creators. In the tightly policed monoculture of 20th-century America‚ this wasn’t a problem. Today‚ however‚ there’s no telling what damage an unrehabilitated reactionary like Archie could do‚ especially if we notice the occasional wisdom amidst the crass language and crude slurs. The Bunker abode is modest and small enough that the sound of a toilet flushing (another TV first for Lear) reverberates throughout the house. Archie’s fierce attachment to his beloved armchair reveals him as a man who doesn’t share space lightly. And yet he and Edith have opened their home to their feckless Boomer daughter and her smug husband. “I just want to learn a little bit about society so I can help people‚” the son-in-law protests in the first episode when Archie dares suggest that taking college classes isn’t the best use of his father-in-law’s largess. More than 50 years later‚ Archie’s response to Meathead’s vague do-gooder ambitions echoes what Americans feel about the humanitarian justifications offered for unchecked immigration and endless foreign wars: “People? Your mother-in-law and me is people. Help us‚ will you?” If you squint‚ this indecorous but welcome appeal to common sense might just remind you of another brash loudmouth from Queens.

A semi-retired professor carried out a cowardly attack at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas Wednesday‚ killing three and critically injuring a fourth victim. Campus police acted swiftly‚ bringing his rampage to an end and ensuring the professor's retirement was permanent. Had it not been for the swift and unflinching intervention by police‚ it appears a great deal more blood would have been spilled. New details have emerged about the attack‚ revealing the gunman had a lengthy kill list and 150 rounds of ammunition to see it through. Police confirmed Thursday that the shooter was the 67-year-old academic who Blaze News previously indicated worked as an associate professor at East Carolina University in North Carolina from 2001 until 2017. Although the shooter received a doctorate in philosophy at the University of Georgia‚ he primarily taught business classes. The Associated Press reported that the shooter recently had an adjunct faculty contract at Roseman University of Health Sciences in Henderson‚ teaching two courses in the school's now-defunct MBA program from October 2018 until June 2022. The shooter‚ who cited George Soros and Karl Popper as among the "Great Minds of the Twentieth Century" on his personal website‚ reportedly applied for a professorship at UNLV but was unsuccessful. Officials indicated he had also been rejected from various other colleges and universities. The shooter had a previous criminal history in Virginia for computer trespass In 1992. According to Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill‚ the shooter arrived at the campus Wednesday in a 2007 Lexus just before 11:30 a.m. and parked in a lot south of the business school. The shooter exited his car‚ armed with a 9mm Taurus handgun and carrying a total of eleven loaded magazines‚ nine of which were later found on his corpse. Three minutes later‚ he entered Beam Hall‚ where the Lee Business School operates. While it was initially reported that he began his rampage on the fourth floor of the building‚ police indicated it started on the fifth floor‚ where a 38-year-old visiting professor was shot and left with life-threatening injuries. The visiting professor managed to make it downstairs and was rushed by police to a community ambulance‚ which then took him to Sunrise Hospital‚ where he remains in critical condition. The bodies of two victims were discovered on the third floor‚ and a third victim was found on the fourth floor. The Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner released the names of two of the victims: professor Cha Jan Chang‚ 64‚ of Henderson‚ and assistant professor Patricia Navarro Velez‚ 39‚ of Las Vegas. The third victim has been identified‚ but officials are waiting to disclose the name until they've notified the victim's next of kin. Chang taught management information systems at the UNLV Lee Business school for over 20 years. Velez began working at the university five years ago and primarily taught accounting information systems. She was also conducting research on cybersecurity disclosures and data analytics. — (@) Police received the first report of an active shooter around 11:45 a.m.. It appears there was no hesitation on the part of metropolitan and campus police to take quick and definitive action. UNLV Police Chief Adam Garcia indicated that the first campus police officer arrived within 78 seconds of the initial report. Officers ultimately intercepted the gunman at 11:55 a.m. as he was exiting Beam Hall. According to officials‚ he "shot at the officers causing the UNLV officers to return fire." The campus police officers neutralized the threat‚ landing multiple shots. Detectives found a list of possible targeted individuals on the shooter's body‚ which did not include those he had shot. "None of the individuals on the target list became a victim‚" said McMahill. Sheriff McMahill noted that the apparent kill list named faculty members from UNLV as well as East Carolina University in North Carolina where the shooter previously taught. Law enforcement officials have contacted all of the potential targets with the exception of one person who was on an international flight. Upon examining the footage from the dashcam in the shooter's Lexus‚ detectives were also able to determine that the disgruntled professor had "dropped off 22 pieces of mail to various university personnel" across the United States with no return address. Some of the letters reportedly contained an unknown white powder‚ which was later deemed harmless. While police are still looking into possible motives‚ McMahill indicated that investigators found an eviction notice taped to the shooter's front door and a document "similar to a last will and testament" clearly demarcated inside the Henderson residence. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Elon Musk fanned the flames of his ongoing feud with Disney CEO Bob Iger on Thursday‚ sharing a series of posts on his social media platform‚ X‚ that accused Iger of supporting child exploitation.During an interview with Andrew Ross Sorkin at the DealBook Summit in New York City last week‚ Musk slammed some companies for boycotting X and attempting to blackmail the platform and advertisers.“Don’t advertise‚” Musk bluntly stated. “If somebody’s gonna try to blackmail me with advertising‚ blackmail me with money? Go f*** yourself! Go. F***. Yourself. Is that clear? I hope it is.”“Hey Bob‚ if you’re in the audience … that’s how I feel‚” Musk added. Disney‚ along with a number of other companies‚ including IBM‚ NBCUniversal‚ and Comcast‚ halted advertising on X.“What I care about is the reality of goodness‚ not the perception of it. And what I see all over the place is people who care about looking good while doing evil‚” Musk continued. “F*** them.” Iger spoke earlier at the same event and noted that his relationship with X was no longer “positive.”On Thursday‚ Musk continued to go after Iger and called for Disney to fire its CEO.Musk shared a meme on X making fun of Iger.“Bob Iger‚” the meme read‚ featuring a photo of comedic actors Laurel and Hardy laughing. “That’s the joke.” Musk added to the post‚ stating that the Disney CEO “drops more bombs than a B-52.” Drops more bombs than a B-52 — (@) “Bob Eiger thinks it’s cool to advertise next to child exploitation material. Real stand up guy‚” the Tesla CEO wrote in another post on X‚ misspelling Iger’s name. The post referred to a recent lawsuit filed against Meta by the New Mexico attorney general’s office‚ accusing Facebook and Instagram of exposing children to sexual content.“Meta has allowed Facebook and Instagram to become a marketplace for predators in search of children upon whom to prey‚” the lawsuit stated. New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez said‚ “Mr. Zuckerberg and other Meta executives are aware of the serious harm their products can pose to young users‚ and yet they have failed to make sufficient changes to their platforms that would prevent the sexual exploitation of children.”Musk questioned why Iger and his company have not boycotted Meta platforms over the allegations.“Why no advertiser boycott‚ Bob Eiger? You are endorsing this material!” he wrote on X.Musk noted that it is “crazy that Disney has to be sued to stop this terrible behavior.”“He should be fire immediately‚” Musk insisted. “Walt Disney is turning in his grave over what Bob has done to his company.”Disney did not respond to a request for comment from the New York Post.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

This week on her very popular podcast‚ Candace Owens took a moment to celebrate that Victoria’s Secret is “bringing sexy back.” The body-positive marketing gimmick is running out of steam‚ and Victoria’s Secret‚ having invested in the woke aesthetic‚ is running out of money. So the company is “returning to the hot girls‚” whose aspirational figures “make you want to buy what they’re selling.” Owens approves of this. She’s “glad they learned their lesson” and looks forward to “watching the hot girls replace the unattractive girls” in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show and catalogs. Sure‚ sex sells. And so sex has been completely commodified‚ the human body twisted and abused in service of psychological manipulation. It’s important to steel-man the argument beyond the catty rhetorical flair: Beauty and excellence are obvious goods. Foregrounding beauty matters; to foreground ugliness under the pretense that objective beauty isn’t real is an affront to good taste‚ to say nothing of reality itself. The worldwide ugliness campaign is real‚ too‚ and it is evil in its aims to degrade humanity’s spirit by depriving people of beauty‚ a process that blunts one’s connection to deeper moral and metaphysical truths‚ at least according to Roger Scruton. Popular conservatism tends to regard wokeness as a beast that emerged ex nihilo from the supposedly flawless cultural moment that was the 1990s and early 2000s. In reality‚ wokeness is the aesthetic and ideological progeny of a certain brand of atheistic nihilism‚ expressed by the Dadaists in World War I-era Germany‚ intellectualized by the sexologists of Weimar Berlin‚ and carried forth by the Bauhaus architects‚ who built the world we know now‚ which is informed by their ideological and aesthetic ilk. A short memory makes it difficult to conceive that the cultural moments conservatives now find themselves defending are fruits of the same debased tree of which their enemies eat freely. Victoria’s Secret isn’t in the business of beauty qua beauty. Consider instead that Victoria’s Secret has played a world-historical role in delivering the philosophy of the sexual revolution to the girl next door. Hot girls were just a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down. The inferences the audience is meant to draw from these images aren’t godly‚ to put it lightly. Owens‚ an extremely effective spokesperson for modern conservative thought‚ missed the forest for the trees. How could a conservative movement‚ if we are to believe that word has any meaning‚ defend a raunchy brand that publicly displays women in the near-nude? One that injected pornographic motifs into the public consciousness through unscrupulously manipulative marketing? Any moral good that the elevation of beauty presents is undone by lasciviousness. Sure‚ sex sells. And so sex has been completely commodified‚ the human body twisted and abused in service of psychological manipulation‚ glittering images of moral depravity projected into the public square‚ fully visible to children. Some of us still find that tragic.