The cancellation of Tom Hanks’ award ceremony at West Point is a victory celebrated by many who reject the “woke” agenda. West Point’s Decision to Cancel the Ceremony In a surprising turn of events, West Point’s alumni association has canceled the Sylvanus Thayer Award ceremony for Tom Hanks, initially scheduled for September 25, 2025. This decision comes after considerable public debate surrounding Hanks’ selection due to his perceived alignment with “woke” culture. The association cited a return to core commitments as their reason for the cancellation, though the question of whether the award itself will be revoked remains unanswered. President Donald Trump, a vocal critic of what he describes as “woke” culture, publicly celebrated the cancellation. Via Truth Social, Trump criticized the choice to honor Hanks, reinforcing his stance against cultural and political shifts he views as undermining traditional American values. Trump’s statement has resonated with many conservatives who see the decision as a victory against the politicization of national honors. The Historical Significance of the Sylvanus Thayer Award Established in 1958, the Sylvanus Thayer Award is named after the “Father of the Military Academy,” Colonel Sylvanus Thayer. This prestigious accolade is awarded to non-graduates of West Point who exemplify the values of Duty, Honor, and Country. Past recipients have included presidents, military leaders, and significant civilian contributors. The cancellation of a ceremony after an announcement is unprecedented, indicating the intense cultural and political scrutiny surrounding the event. Tom Hanks was chosen for his extensive philanthropic efforts and positive portrayal of American service members in his films. While some praised his selection, others criticized it, viewing it as further evidence of awards being influenced by cultural trends rather than merit. This division reflects broader societal debates about the role of “wokeness” in public and institutional decisions. Potential Implications and Reactions The cancellation has sparked significant debate, both short- and long-term. In the short term, the media spotlight on this decision has intensified discussions on the politicization of military honors, impacting the reputations of both Hanks and West Point. Long-term, this decision could set a precedent for future award considerations and may discourage the selection of honorees who are seen as controversial or non-traditional. Trump celebrates West Point cancelling award ceremony for Tom Hanks | Just The News https://t.co/HAAUeUivCc — James (@James1321730876) September 8, 2025 The cancellation also highlights the ongoing cultural and political divisions within the United States. For some, this decision upholds the integrity of the award, while others see it as a capitulation to political pressures. As discussions continue, the focus remains on how institutions like West Point navigate their roles amid such polarized environments. Sources: Sylvanus Thayer Award – Wikipedia Tom Hanks to Receive Thayer Award – WPAOG WPAOG Awards – Thayer Award Sylvanus Thayer Award – USMA Obama to Receive 2024 Sylvanus Thayer Award

The autumn season doesn’t officially start until near the end of September. That said, for those of us who live for this time of year, the spirit of the season starts much sooner. This is particularly true for gardeners who want to grow their very own pumpkin patches! In case you weren’t aware, pumpkins can take a bit of time to grow. Depending on the exact kind of seeds you get, it may take 90-120 days. In other words, you’ve got to get started during the summer. While growing pumpkins isn’t considered the most difficult vegetable to grow, that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Lots of time, effort, and love goes into creating the perfect pumpkin patch. Lindsay from Alaska would know. After successfully growing a pumpkin patch in her backyard last year, she tried again… and got over 40 pumpkins! But the beauty of her pumpkin patch extends beyond the vegetables themselves. The entire backyard is a fall wonderland! Watch the video below to see for yourself. @lindsayinalaska Our backyard pumpkin patch (arch). This year I grew over 40 pumpkins again but the real magic is letting my kids pick from their own patch #halloween #pumpkinpatch #gardening #diy #alaska #pumpkins #nostalgia #vintagehalloween #nostalgichalloween ♬ Amas Veritas – Alan Silvestri “What in the Cinderella?! How cute!!” someone wrote in reply to Lindsay’s video. Other commentors added, “Lucky kids! They will always remember how magical this was for them” and “I AM SO DOING THIS NEXT YEAR.” Alaskan Woman’s Backyard Pumpkin Patch Embodies the Coziness of the Fall Season Needless to say, fellow gardeners are dying to know how Lindsay managed to grow such a lovely pumpkin patch. Some of her luck simply has to do with where she lives. For example, some of the most pesky bugs, like vine borers, aren’t found in Alaska. Her biggest advice, however, does apply to everyone: Feed those pumpkins! “Feed them a lot!” Lindsay wrote in reply to a commentor asking for tips. “Unfortunately our growing season is VERY short so I have to feed them a lot and still they don’t get too big. I might get a 25lb pumpkin but never bigger.” You can find the source of this story’s featured image here! The post Backyard Pumpkin Patch Turns Into Glowing Dream World When The Sun Goes Down appeared first on InspireMore.

'Abominable waste of money'

Last year, a historic drought in the lowlands of the Amazon Basin saw hundreds of thousands of acres go up in flames. This year, the combination of more careful local communities and healthy rains have meant that the amount of tropical rainforest burned by wildfires this year has been 65% less than in 2024. The […] The post Brazil Records 65 Percent Drop in Amazon Area Burned by Fire, Lowest Since Monitoring Began appeared first on Good News Network.

After years of stagnant church attendance, a surprising shift is underway. Millennials and Generation Z are emerging as the new “backbone of church attendance,” driving a resurgence in spiritual engagement, according to recent findings from Barna Group’s ongoing State of the Church initiative with Gloo. The research highlighted a notable uptick in spiritual interest, faith activity, and even signs of revival, particularly among younger Christians. “The headline,” as Barna Group stated, is that “Millennials and Gen Z Christians are attending church more frequently than before and much more often than are older generations. The typical Gen Z churchgoer now attends 1.9 weekends per month, while Millennial churchgoers average 1.8 times—a steady upward shift since the lows seen during the pandemic.” The report further emphasized: “These are easily the highest rates of church attendance among young Christians since they first hit Barna’s tracking.” Daniel Copeland, Barna’s vice president of research, provided deeper insight into the data. “We were able to analyze our data in a fresh way to show what many pastors feel—that even really regular churchgoers do not attend that often,” he said. “Among all churched adults, we found that they attend, on average, 1.6 times per month, or roughly two out of every five weekends. This new analysis of the tracking data helps us better understand the frustrations pastors feel when they are trying to build momentum for their congregations, such as series-based preaching and mobilizing volunteers.” Yet, Copeland highlighted the anomaly: “The fact that young people are showing up more frequently than before is not a typical trend. It’s typically older adults who are the most loyal churchgoers. This data represents good news for church leaders and adds to the picture that spiritual renewal is shaping Gen Z and Millennials today.” David Kinnaman, CEO of Barna Group, explained how there are far more to the statistics than what meets the eye. “The significant drop-off among older generations,” he noted, “shows that the fabric of congregational life is changing. It’s more frayed and less gray than it was a decade ago. The influx of new generations represents a massive opportunity for congregational leaders, but this renewed interest must be stewarded well.” What does effective stewardship entail? Kinnaman emphasized that it goes beyond studying young people’s interest in Christianity—it requires guiding and equipping them to become devoted disciples. “Our research clearly shows that churchgoing alone does not in itself create devoted disciples,” he stated. “Even with the increasing participation of younger generations, there is still the challenge of shaping hearts and minds to live out their faith beyond church participation.” For church leaders, the report went on to note, this provides an opportunity to shepherd the younger generations who are filling up their congregations. At the same time, the group added, it poses certain challenges, such as changes to church rhythm. “If these trends continue,” Barna Group wrote, “the spiritual explorations of the next generation could redefine the makeup and momentum of Christianity and of congregations in the coming decade. The data points to a future where the vitality of the Church may hinge on how well leaders engage the spiritual curiosity and commitments of younger adults.” Additional Barna research reinforces this optimism, revealing that “66 percent of all U.S. adults say they have made a personal commitment to Jesus that is still important in their life today.” This reflects a 12% increase since 2021, which Barna described as “not only statistically significant—it may be the clearest indication of meaningful spiritual renewal in the United States.” Brent Keilen, vice president for strategic initiatives at Family Research Council, couldn’t agree more. “These findings are significant,” he told The Washington Stand, noting that they “align with other recent news on decisions for Jesus increasing, a spike in Bible sales, and revival on college campuses around the country.” He challenged the assumption that young people are disinterested in faith, stating, “Up until recently, many people assumed that young people have little interest in Christianity and that a decline in faith was basically inevitable. These new reports show that is simply not the case.” Keilen pointed to a deeper shift, stating, “There is a tremendous hunger for genuine faith among young people. It’s notable that these numbers have been steadily increasing since COVID. The pandemic seems to have given younger generations a new awareness of deeper human needs, ones that can’t be met by social media or entertainment.” He added, “They are searching to find real answers.” In the midst of this search, though, is the need for the church to come alongside them and provide spiritual guidance. That is what Family Research Council’s David Closson, director of the Center for Biblical Worldview, discussed with The Washington Stand. “This trend is both surprising and encouraging,” he stated. “For years, surveys have shown young people drifting away from church, so to see Gen Z and Millennials leading an increase in attendance is notable.” And yet, as Closson went on to highlight, it’s also “not surprising.” He looked back at what’s occurred in society the last several years: “The pandemic exposed the emptiness of so many cultural idols and reminded us all of our mortality and need for hope. At the same time, the LGBT and Sexual revolution have failed to deliver on their promises. Secular ideologies told young people they could construct their own identities and find freedom apart from God’s design, but that experiment has left many confused, lonely, and hurting.” And so, he added, “Younger Americans are increasingly realizing that these ideologies can’t provide meaning or satisfy the deepest longings of the heart.” Echoing what Keilen said, Closson emphasized that “what they are hungry for is transcendent truth, and Christianity uniquely provides ultimate answers—answers found in the gospel of Jesus Christ and the life-giving community of the church.” This, then, leads to the need for discipleship. As Closson explained, “Discipleship is absolutely essential. Jesus’s Great Commission was not simply to make converts but to ‘make disciples’—to teach people to obey everything He commanded.” It’s good to see young people returning to church, Closson noted, but “that’s only the beginning.” Such a shift is only fruitful when accompanied by “intentional teaching, mentoring, and modeling of what it looks like to follow Christ in every area of life,” Closson asserted. “That’s especially critical in a culture that bombards them with counterfeit worldviews.” Closson highlighted with two main pieces of advice. First, “for pastors and church leaders, invest deeply in solid biblical teaching and create opportunities for intergenerational relationships.” But for every Christian, Closson concluded, “realize that discipleship isn’t only a program; it’s a lifestyle. Invite younger believers into your home, open the Bible with them, pray with them, and show them what faithfulness looks like in daily life. If we do that, this hunger among Gen Z and Millennials can become the seedbed for real spiritual renewal.” Originally published by The Washington Stand The post Church Attendance Is on the Rise, and Young People are Leading the Charge appeared first on The Daily Signal.

These aren’t just time crystals, since they also repeat in space, making them the first continuous space-time crystals.

The highest concentration of shooting stars will be visible in the evening hours.

Unidentified Aerial Phenomena are once again back in Congress.

USO stands for Unidentified Submerged Object: a UAP that appears to interact with water or transit between air and sea. Reports like the 2004 Nimitz “Tic Tac,” the 2013 Aguadilla thermal video, and the 1967 Shag Harbour case suggest some UAP approach, skim, plunge, and even re-emerge from the ocean. This feature explores a practical question: if such events are real, where would these craft most likely travel—and why would the ocean be the perfect cover? USO 101: Why the Ocean Makes Sense The sea offers stealth. It absorbs radar and light, muffles sound, and provides a vast, low-traffic volume for maneuvering. In addition, much of the U.S. and NATO sensor grid focuses on air threats, leaving gaps underwater or near the surface. Historic Navy hydrophone networks (e.g., SOSUS/IUSS) don’t cover every coastal shelf, and their data are mostly classified. In short: the ocean is a natural blind spot. Key Cases Often Cited with USO Behavior Nimitz “Tic Tac,” 2004: Carrier pilots described a smooth, wingless object and a “churning” patch of ocean as if something was just beneath the surface. Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, 2013: A DHS thermal video shows a small object flying low over land and water at night, appearing to enter the sea and later split into two. Shag Harbour, Nova Scotia, 1967: Witnesses reported an object descending into the water; divers searched the seabed with no debris found. Southern California training ranges, 2019: Navy ships logged swarms of unknown craft near the Channel Islands—illustrating how crowded air/sea test areas complicate identification. “USO Highways”: Likely Corridors to Watch Based on bathymetry, traffic patterns, and infrastructure, several corridors stand out. These are not proof of UAP—just data-driven zones where unusual activity would be harder to track and easier to mistake for routine traffic. 1) Deep Trenches Adjacent to Coasts Puerto Rico Trench: The Atlantic’s deepest point sits just north of the island—close to the Aguadilla case and near busy air/sea lanes. Monterey Submarine Canyon (CA): A deep canyon near dense test ranges and shipping, with frequent marine layer and night haze that degrade visuals. Tonga, Philippine, and Kuril-Kamchatka Trenches: Extremely deep Pacific corridors with sparse surface traffic across long stretches. 2) Undersea Cable & Sensor Chokepoints Global internet cables converge at coastal “landing stations.” These zones host survey ships, ROVs, and maintenance activity, creating noise and clutter that could mask anomalies. They’re also strategically vital, so unusual activity draws attention—but not always public reporting. Hot hubs: Guam & Hawaii; U.S. East Coast (Virginia Beach, Florida); Mediterranean hubs (Sicily–Marseille); UK/Western Europe (Cornwall, Brittany); and East/Southeast Asia clusters. 3) Military Ranges & Instrumented Sea Lanes Areas with lots of sensors also have lots of decoys: drones, balloons, training targets, flares, and classified tests. That mix can both reveal anomalies and confuse analysis. Southern California, Virginia Capes, and parts of the Western Pacific are prime examples. Could Our Sensors Be Missing Transmedium Events? Night-vision systems, compressed phone video, and mis-focused optics can turn point lights into “triangles” or make reflections look like objects. Meanwhile, underwater, hydrophone lines and seabed arrays may not cover near-shore shelves or small bays. NASA’s 2023 UAP study and the DoD’s AARO both stress a core problem: our data are inconsistent, often uncalibrated, and rarely synchronized across air/sea sensors. Until that changes, uncertainty persists. What Would Prove a USO? Multi-sensor capture: Synchronized video + radar + IR + acoustic + AIS/ship track data for the same time window. Two-angle visual: Independent cameras with landmarks and compass bearing. Water interaction: Visible wake, splash crown, cavitation trail, or thermal plume consistent across sensors. Raw files & metadata: Original EXIF, GPS, and time sources preserved and shared. Reader Call-Out: Coastal Watch Live near the coast or work at sea? If you film a suspected USO, capture a steady 10–30 seconds with landmarks, then pan to horizon, Moon/stars, or ships for scale. Log time, GPS, bearing, wind, tide, and note any ship, drone, or flare activity. If safe, check AIS/FlightRadar after. Send reports (with raw files) to your local MUFON/SCU chapter and tip us at Anomalien. Bottom Line Most “USO” buzz fades under scrutiny—drones, balloons, birds, reflections, or routine military activity explain many cases. Yet a few incidents showing clear water interaction remain unresolved. If UAP do exploit the ocean, the smart places to look are deep coastal canyons, cable landing zones, and busy range corridors. With better multi-sensor data, we can finally separate myth from mechanics. Watch: Case Studies Aguadilla (2013) thermal clip: 60 Minutes: Nimitz pilots on the 2004 encounter: Sources: NASA Independent Study Team on UAP (methods & data needs), 2023 — PDF AARO Historical Record Report Vol. 1 (methodology & findings), 2024 — AARO.mil Nimitz “Tic Tac” ocean disturbance coverage — History.com | CBS/60 Minutes Aguadilla 2013 DHS thermal analysis — SCU on Zenodo | DoD reconstruction — DVIDS Shag Harbour 1967 case overview — Municipality of Barrington Navy swarms off California (2019) — The War Zone Undersea surveillance history (IUSS/SOSUS) — USNI Global subsea cable hubs & landing stations — TeleGeography Map | FAQs The post USO Highways: Are UFOs Using the Ocean? appeared first on Anomalien.com.

If you've ever been apple picking, you know how homely apples right off the tree can look. A far cry from the beautiful specimens we've come to expect from the supermarket: smooth, unblemished, blood-red.But this cosmetic perfection comes at a price. It relies on pesticides that poison our soil, our water and our bodies.Farmers themselves are the first casualties. Studies show they face elevated rates of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma, prostate cancer, gliomas, leukemia, and melanoma.Pointing this out shouldn't be a radical position, but it is. Must we take to the trees like Julia Butterfly Hill just to demand food that won't sicken us and degrade the environment? It’s unfortunate that we’ve come to a place where commonsense stewardship of nature requires the constitution of an eco-activist.In denial Part of the problem is denial. The Environmental Protection Agency already has the authority to regulate the sale, distribution, and use of pesticides under the 1947 Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act.Great, I guess. And yet, we now have over 90,000 registered pesticide products, built from 3,577 unique active ingredients.We can look at these numbers — and at the sickness in our bodies — and know, intuitively, that it’s all wrong. That no one in authority is actually looking out for us. Dye another day It took the allegedly “anti-science” RFK Jr. to ban carcinogenic food dyes. And yet, we’ve known about their harm for decades. Red Dye No. 3 was banned from cosmetics in 1990 — so why did it take 35 more years to consider removing it from our food?Recent research links food dyes like Red No. 3 and Red No. 40 to DNA damage and to the sharp rise of colorectal cancer in young adults over the past 40 years. One study put it plainly: Our results show that Red 40 damages DNA both in vitro and in vivo. ... This evidence supports the hypothesis that Red 40 is a dangerous compound. The parallel with pesticides is obvious. We have similar data proving that perfectly legal pesticides are carcinogenic. But who has the political will to confront the EPA and break the industrial pesticide complex? Pesticide pestilence As I wrote previously, pesticides in our homes and gardens pose serious risks for us and our unborn children. Now, consider the 280 million pounds of glyphosate sprayed annually on 285 million acres of farmland — an area nearly three times the size of California.And pesticides don’t simply vanish. They metastasize and bioaccumulate. Every step up the food chain concentrates them further.The results are devastating: A 2025 JAMA study found that living within one mile of a golf course increases Parkinson’s risk by 126%. The risk stays elevated up to three miles. Communities sharing municipal water systems connected to golf courses faced nearly double the risk. The suspected culprit? Persistent pesticide contamination. A 2024 Frontiers in Cancer Control and Society study tied pesticide exposure to higher incidence of leukemia, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and bladder, colon, lung, and pancreatic cancers. Farmers themselves are the first casualties. Studies show they face elevated rates of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma, prostate cancer, gliomas, leukemia, and melanoma.And the damage doesn’t stop at harvest. Pesticides remain on the skin of fruit and vegetables and the surface of grains; tests have found glyphosate in most U.S. wines and beers. According to one study, glyphosate at a level of just one part per trillion can stimulate the growth of breast cancer cells and disrupt the endocrine system.RELATED: Is your home trying to kill you? Mirrorpix/Getty Images Buddy system Why is the United States so saturated with poisons that Europe has long banned? 2016 research showed that more than 322 million pounds of pesticides used in the U.S. were already outlawed in the European Union — over a quarter of America’s total volume. Europe bans chemicals when there’s credible evidence of harm. The EPA, in contrast, tends to have a cozy relationship with the pesticide industry, resulting in lax oversight. So Europe outlaws neonicotinoids (bee-killing pesticides), paraquat, and chlorpyrifos — while America still sprays them. Paraquat, linked to Parkinson’s disease, remains widely applied in the U.S.And it’s not just domestic hypocrisy. While driving in France this summer, I passed a pesticide plant that manufactures chemicals banned in Europe — yet sells them abroad. This practice is common, sinister, and completely legal. Into the woods The insanity extends beyond agriculture. Glyphosate is sprayed into forests for “management.” In Nova Scotia, officials actually closed parks for fire danger — then announced plans to spray glyphosate across thousands of acres. A move that kills trees, suppresses growth, increases fire risk, and poisons pollinators.This is not new. In the 1960s, scientists showed that DDT and its byproducts accumulated in birds, thinning eggshells and driving bald eagles and peregrine falcons to the brink of collapse. Decades later, banned chemicals like DDT and PCBs are still found in marine life.We have always known. And yet the pesticide game continues. Ground-up reform I honestly believe that banning the last 50 years of registered pesticide products would do more good for humanity than any other environmental reform. Plastics are a fast second.The main takeaway is this: Our 90,000+ registered pesticides are destroying us. The cumulative 3,577 unique active ingredients they use concentrate in every step of the food chain, ending in our bodies.And here’s the bitter truth: RFK Jr., even as HHS head, has no power over the EPA. If the food supply is poisoned from the ground up, his efforts are for naught.So we return to the first question: Who will stand up for us?