LMAO ... at least he kept it real

'Well done my friend'

The Virginia election season began with the Democrat ticket leading, but after scandal hit Democrat attorney general nominee Jay Jones, at least one observer predicts it could be the first split-ticket outcome in the state in 20 years.   Democrat gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger and Jones had led in the polls since June. However, after politically charged, violent text messages sent by Jones in 2022 were made public in early October, Miyares became the only Republican to take a steady lead.   The attorney general election initially made national headlines after Jones’ past was exposed. In early October, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported he had avoided jail time in early 2022 and allegedly misled the court about fulfilling his community service hours ordered following a reckless-driving ticket for doing 116 mph in a 70-mph zone. A day later, the National Review published a report about text messages, also from 2022, that Jones sent to a Virginia Republican legislator fantasizing about assassinating then-Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert and similarly threatening Gilbert’s two young children.  “Before the Jones text story broke about a month ago, it would have been reasonable to call Miyares an underdog. Now, I’d characterize it as more of a toss-up,” J. Miles Coleman, the associate editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball, the University of Virginia Center for Politics’ nonpartisan newsletter on American campaigns and elections, told The Daily Signal. Coleman identified two groups that could swing the election: “Those ‘soft’ Spanberger [voters] who are predisposed to vote Democratic, but were put off by Jones’ texts,” and those who view a vote for Jones as a vote against Trump.  “Negative partisanship is real,” he said.   President Donald Trump and his administration denounced the threatening text messages. Trump called Jones a “radical left lunatic” and said he should “drop out of the Race IMMEDIATELY.” In the same post, Trump gave his “Complete and Total Endorsement” to Miyares.   Coleman believes that support from Trump and other national Republicans—such as Vice President JD Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.—might hurt Miyares. “They may find Jones’ texts unsavory, but they may come to see a vote against Miyares as a vote against Trump,” Coleman said.  Though Spanberger has denounced the texts, she has not called for Jones to quit the race. Her silence was notable during an Oct. 9 gubernatorial debate, when she was challenged on it by her Republican rival, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears. Spanberger subsequently shared her frustration on Katie Couric’s podcast on Oct. 21.  Spanberger said: “The fact that I have to spend even a moment’s time talking about somebody else’s text messages from years ago, rather than what I want to do as governor, is something that I am deeply unhappy about.”  Republican former U.S. Rep. Dave Brat said he’s familiar with Spanberger’s tendency to avoid direct questions. “When I ran against Spanberger, it was just kind of a ‘Seinfeld’ show about silence and crickets. She didn’t ever have a position on anything,” he told The Daily Signal.   Brat believes Spanberger could win, but he also thinks the Republican nominees for lieutenant governor and attorney general have a chance—though it will likely be close.  “There hasn’t been a split-ticket outcome in Virginia since 2005, but this year could see a real test of that,” Coleman said. “The consensus seems to be that Spanberger will win the gubernatorial race, but the margin will be important. To me, if Spanberger wins by more than 8 points, it’ll get hard for Miyares to generate enough crossover support to hold on.”  Early voting has been open since Sept. 19, two weeks before the Jones texts were made public. While more than 1 million Virginians have already cast ballots, the state has 6.3 million registered voters. The polls will open Tuesday at 6 a.m. and will close at 7 p.m.  The post Despite Jones’ Scandals, Virginia’s AG Race Remains Close appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Frank Luntz: Democrats Are Hurt the Worst During Shutdown

A video showing a woman complaining about her lack of food aid benefits is going viral because she admitted that she's been on the dole for 30 years.Maggie Aragon of New Mexico was interviewed on a KOAT-TV news story intending to drum up sympathy for the tens of millions of Americans who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. The program was facing suspension over the ongoing government shutdown.'Welfare was meant to lift people up, not trap them forever. When do we start rewarding work again?'"The first thing I did was grab my phone and call, and when I heard 'zero dollars,' my chest went into my throat!" Aragon said to KOAT. "I have depended on those benefits since the 1990s, and it's detrimental to my life if I don't get them."She told the outlet that she often had to rely on food banks in addition to SNAP in order to survive.Video of Aragon's comments went viral on social media, where it garnered millions of views.Many pounced on the admission to criticize the program."I can barely afford my own bills and this useless eater has been on food stamps for 30 f**king years. She's been living off MY taxes for 30 f**king years. Cut it off. Let them suffer," author Matt Forney replied."Millions of people live entirely as wards of the state, completely disconnected from the world of work and self-sufficiency. How can this be sustainable?" writer Brian Almon responded."Look, I feel sympathy for people like this on a human level. But she hasn't been able to get a job in three decades? This smells of manufactured dependency, not unavoidable hardship," one user responded."Let's say this woman is 65, which maybe she is ... she has good skin, so possibly younger ... that means she's been on food stamps since she was in her early 30s or maybe younger. That is literally insane," commentator Ryan Girdusky said."Thirty years on food stamps says everything about the system, not the person. Welfare was meant to lift people up, not trap them forever. When do we start rewarding work again?" another user said.Others defended Aragon on the possibility that she was suffering from a disability and was unable to work.RELATED: Judges rule that food stamp benefits cannot be suspended over shutdown — and Trump responds At least one police department said it had increased patrols around grocery stores and food banks to avoid robbery and unrest."These increased patrols are not in response to any specific incident, but are a preventive measure to maintain public safety, deter theft, and reassure the community that law enforcement is present and ready to help," reads a statement from the Barstow Police Department.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Police in Glassboro, New Jersey, said two males were caught on video throwing a chair at officers — hitting one in the back of the head — during an early Saturday morning brawl inside a Domino's Pizza store.Police said after officers responded to the large fight around 2:44 a.m. and were making arrests, two black males — one wearing a gray jacket and the other a light blue sweatshirt — "picked up a chair and threw it at our officers, striking one of them in the back of the head. Not only was this intentional, they found it extremely hysterical while they ran from the scene."'Out of nowhere I looked to my left, [and] there's a chair just flying right down this hallway.'WTXF-TV reported that the officer who was hit was treated at the scene and is expected to recover.While police said in their original Facebook post that "we need your help in identifying them," a Monday afternoon update indicates that suspects have been identified.However, surveillance video showing the brawl — including the moment the chair was thrown — is no longer on the police department's Facebook post. Also no longer visible on the post are the four still images of the two suspects.Police did indicate in their 1:30 p.m. Monday update that a "news release will be made available when feasible."RELATED: Girl, 15, accused of throwing chair that clobbered teacher in head, knocked her to floor, and sent her to hospital is arrested, charged with felonious assault A Domino's employee interviewed at the scene told WTXF that "there was so much chaos up there ... just a bunch of people, like, throwing punches at each other, even at my co-workers. ... I saw ... one girl turn around and just deck another girl in the face. Out of nowhere I looked to my left, [and] there's a chair just flying right down this hallway."Glassboro is about 40 minutes south of Philadelphia. The station added that the Domino's Pizza store is located near Rowan University, which also is in Glassboro.As you might expect, a number of reactions to the incident weren't exactly sympathetic to the brawlers and chair throwers. To wit:"These MFs need an old-school ass whooping," one commenter wrote. "Maybe I am better off out the game now. S**t is ridiculous nowadays.""Time to get rid of no bail and minimum prison sentences," another user said, adding that it's the "only way you're gonna cut it out — or at least cut it down.""They should all be arrested and charged!!" another commenter declared. "The ones standing around watching and recording are no better than the others.""This is disgusting," another user opined. "Absolute animals that need to be locked up."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Éric Conrad, InrapThough the dead were burned, archaeologists still found the remnants of their bones. During updates to a road along the French Mediterranean coast, near the ancient settlement of Olbia, archaeologists discovered evidence of an elaborate cemetery dating back to the Roman era. There, they found what remained of funeral pyres and grave goods, as well as an elaborate “libation” channel used to leave liquid offerings to the dead. The necropolis, which may connect to other former funerary sites in the area, is a remarkable testament to how people in the region mourned their dead. The Ancient Necropolis Of Olbia According to a statement from the National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (Inrap), the funerary site near Olbia (in present-day Hyères, France) was detected during excavations ahead of a project to update a nearby road. During these digs, archaeologists found a necropolis stretching across roughly 8,600 square feet that was seemingly used between the first and third centuries C.E. Aurélie Luciani, SDA VarA partially melted bronze object found at the site of an ancient funeral pyre. Archaeologists believe that the site was used solely for cremation. They uncovered pits with reddened walls, seemingly from intense flames. Nails found alongside burned bones suggest that the dead were placed upon funeral pyres, where a “central depression” in the pits provided ventilation. The deceased were thus seemingly placed on a pyre over a pit with pottery and other important personal belongings to accompany them into the afterlife. The pyre was then set on fire, which reddened the walls of the pit, destroyed the wood, cracked the bones of the corpses, and melted the glass and bronze objects that had been placed alongside them. Some of these pyre sites also included unburned items, which suggested that they were used as burial pits once the fire died down. However, other pits were seemingly emptied, and the cremated remains were moved to another location. These pits were graves sometimes marked with a sandstone block. And in the final resting place of the dead, mourners seemingly left objects like glass perfume bottles and vases in their tombs. Sylvie Duchesne, InrapAn example of a pyre that was transformed into a tomb, complete with a roof. But the ritual of mourning the dead didn’t end here. How The Dead Were Mourned In Ancient Olbia After the ritual of burning and burying the dead was complete, ancient people in Olbia seemingly turned next to pleasing the deities. To do so, they left behind items like perfume, coins, and lamps. But one of the most curious parts of the Olbia necropolis is a libation conduit. According to Inrap, this “distinctive feature” of the necropolis was seemingly installed above the graves. Here, mourners could leave liquid offerings, including wine, beer, and mead. Tassadit Abdelli, InrapTwo “libation conduits” which were placed atop graves, and where mourners could pour liquids like beer and wine in a gesture to the deities. These conduits, made from amphorae seemingly obtained through maritime trade, were possibly used to ensure the protection of the deceased in the afterlife. Alternatively, these liquid offerings may have been a way for mourners to honor the dead. In any case, the necropolis found at Olbia seems to be one of many that once stretched along the French Mediterranean coast. Other burial areas were detected nearby in 2022 and 2023, thus suggesting “that an even larger area dedicated to the deceased existed in Roman times along a coastal road likely leading towards the city of Toulon/Telo Martius.” Such discoveries are a fascinating look at the people who once lived in the area. According to Inrap, Olbia was a fortified colony founded in the fourth century B.C.E., and it was occupied until the sixth century C.E. Its citizens clearly had elaborate methods of honoring the dead, which archaeologists are still untangling. As Inrap noted in their statement, “These discoveries remind us that ancient funerary rites were rich, varied, and imbued with multiple meanings, some of which remain mysterious even today.” After reading about the sprawling ancient necropolis where cremations once took place along the French Mediterranean coast, discover the fascinating story of Naours, France, one of the world’s most incredible underground cities. Or, enjoy these stunning photos from France’s “La Belle Époque.” The post A Sprawling Ancient Burial Ground Where The Dead Were Ritualistically Cremated Has Been Discovered In France appeared first on All That's Interesting.

Pierre-Narcisse Guérin/Louvre MuseumA painting of Queen Dido and the Trojan hero Aeneas. According to Greco-Roman legend, Dido founded the ancient city of Carthage in modern-day Tunisia by requesting a seemingly small amount of land from a local chieftain — only as much as an ox-hide could cover. Dido then cleverly cut that ox-hide into tiny strips and laid them out in a circle, claiming a much larger space than expected. Encompassing an entire hillside, Carthage quickly transformed into a bustling metropolis, and Dido became famous not only as the founder of the city, but also its first queen. However, as ancient myths tell it, her power and influence couldn’t protect her from meeting a tragic fate. In Virgil’s Aeneid, Queen Dido fell in love with the Trojan hero Aeneas after he landed in North Africa. Though it initially seemed like Aeneas returned her feelings, Aeneas was soon commanded by the gods to continue on his planned journey. He then abandoned Dido, leading her to die by suicide. The mists of time have forever clouded the story of this fabled queen, and it’s still unclear whether she was inspired by a real historical figure. Despite this, Dido’s legends have captivated countless people for millennia. Who Was Queen Dido Of Carthage? Public DomainA portrait of Queen Dido by Dosso Dossi. The queen of Carthage was known by many names, including Elissa, Elisha, Alashiya, and Dido. Her most famous name was an epithet meaning “wanderer,” likely due to her journey that led her to founding a new city. According to most versions of her story, she originally hailed from Tyre, located in modern-day Lebanon. She was also the daughter of a king. Her brother Pygmalion, who became the leader of Tyre after the king died, slew Dido’s husband Sychaeus because he was jealous of Sychaeus’ wealth. Aware that she was in grave danger, Dido fled Tyre with a group of loyal followers and other settlers, eventually reaching North Africa. Some versions of the story state that she carved out her kingdom of Carthage after using the ox-hide trick when asking the local chieftain Hiarbas for land. In other versions, she simply purchased the land from Hiarbas. Either way, she founded her city, which came to be known as Carthage, inspired by the Phoenician phrase for “new town.” Carthage soon flourished. In early versions of the Dido myth, the same chieftain who gave her the land relentlessly pursued her hand in marriage. Soon, Dido had enough. Out of respect for her late husband, and to escape an unwanted marriage, Dido built a great funeral pyre. Then, right in front of her subjects, she stabbed herself to death, throwing herself on the crackling flames. Of course, that is just one version of the tale of Dido. Queen Dido In The Aeneid National Trust Collections/Wikimedia CommonsAeneas and Achates approaching the Queen of Carthage, Dido, in a Jacopo Amigoni painting. In the famous Roman poet Virgil’s Aeneid, Dido plays a key role as the doomed lover of the legendary Trojan hero Aeneas. Aeneas, who was said to be the son of Aphrodite and Anchises, fought bravely for Troy until it eventually fell to the Greeks. Though Troy was doomed, Aeneas was able to escape successfully after learning through a vision or a dream that he was destined to found a great new city overseas. But en route to destiny, Aeneas met Dido. Amidst his many adventures, he shipwrecked off the coast of North Africa near Carthage, which led him to cross paths with the queen. The two eventually fell in love, with some versions of the myth claiming that Dido had been resisting many suitors after the death of her former husband. But when it came to Aeneas, Dido was fatefully struck by Cupid’s arrow. Unfortunately, their love story was short-lived. Aeneas was soon commanded by the gods, particularly Mercury, to continue on his planned journey. Feeling guilty about being sidetracked during his travels, Aeneas promptly abandoned Dido, leaving her heartbroken. Dido eventually became so depressed that she killed herself. But she used her final moments to yield power one last time — cursing the Trojans and setting the stage for the Punic Wars between Carthage and Rome. She said: “Let there be no love between our peoples and no treaties… Let there be war between the nations and between their sons for ever.” Aeneas, meanwhile, fulfilled his destiny by sailing to modern-day Italy and establishing Lavinium, paving the way for Romulus to later found Rome. The Historical Truth About Carthage Cleveland Museum of Art/Wikimedia CommonsA 19th-century imagining of Carthage. The truth of Dido’s very existence is not clear, with no proof that the legendary queen was inspired by a real person from history. Carthage, however, was undoubtedly a real city. Tradition holds that the settlement in modern-day Tunisia was founded by Phoenicians of Tyre in 814 B.C.E. They dubbed their new home “New Town.” Positioned among low hills, near the freshwater Lake of Tunis and the Strait of Sicily, Carthage quickly grew thanks to its natural resources and its ideal location between the east and west of the classical world. This “New Town” soon made a name for itself among traders for murex shells, which were used to create a coveted purple dye. Carthage also exploited silver mines in and around the region, which increased its wealth. Wikimedia CommonsA modern-day look at Carthage’s ruins in Tunisia. All these riches whet Rome’s appetite. Senator Cato the Elder summed it up simply: “Delenda est Carthago.” (“Carthage must be destroyed.”) From the mid-3rd century B.C.E. to the mid-2nd century B.C.E., Carthage and Rome were engaged in the Punic Wars, which ultimately ended with the downfall of Carthage. From there, Rome successfully stretched its influence across the Mediterranean. And the legendary Dido’s city was left in ashes. Dido’s Lasting Legacy In Legends And Art Rome eventually rebuilt Carthage, turning it into a city to rival Alexandria or Antioch. The new “New Town” became a favorite of Roman emperors. Despite the Roman renovation, the specter of Dido lingered. Emperor Nero reportedly splurged on missions to find her supposed hidden treasure, which was rumored to be hoarded in some caverns near Carthage. Though Roman Carthage was eventually destroyed amidst a Vandal raid in the fifth century C.E., a Byzantine invasion in the sixth century, and the city’s eventual capture by the Arabs in the eighth century, some ancient ruins like temples and aqueducts still remain at the site to this day. The story of Dido also persists. While she’s often portrayed as a tragic figure in literature and artwork, not all depictions focus on her feelings of betrayal and her death by suicide. Some portrayals instead highlight her power. One 16th-century carving portrays Dido as a confident queen, nude and defiant, holding the ox-hide that would lead to Carthage’s founding. The Cleveland Museum of ArtA famous statue of Dido with an ox-hide curtain. Other depictions showcase her wisdom or her statesmanship. Some 16th-century bronze coins depict Dido in profile on one side, with an illustration of Carthage on the other side. In this case, Queen Dido and her city are inseparable, quite literally two sides of the same coin. National Gallery of Art/Wikimedia CommonsA bronze coin of Dido. It’s little wonder why ancient Romans — and those who came after them — were both fascinated and scandalized by Queen Dido and what she represented. A powerful yet tragic woman whose legend left an unforgettable mark on history, Dido may call to mind other ancient queens whose historicity has been confirmed, such as Cleopatra of Egypt and Boudica of Britain. Though Dido’s name is currently strongly associated with a famous English singer, her name was actually inspired by the fabled queen. When looking back at the history of Queen Dido’s legend, it’s fascinating how some civilizations saw her as someone to fear — or pity — while others saw an admirable, dynamic monarch with unforgettable wisdom and far-reaching influence. In some ways, Dido and her story may reveal more about the storytellers than about the legendary queen herself. Learn more about Rome’s fierce female enemies by reading about Zenobia, the warrior queen of the Middle East, and Queen Amanirenas, the one-eyed Nubian royal who resisted Roman rule. The post Inside The Ancient Legend Of Dido, The Founder Of Carthage And The Doomed Lover Of Aeneas appeared first on All That's Interesting.

Adam Kinzinger Wonders If We’re All Suing CBS for Editing Trump Interview

David Frum's Freudian Slip: GOP Debates Antisemitism, Dems Embrace It