Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser actually praised President Trump for his efforts to reduce crime in the nation’s capital. I saw it this morning and wanted to post it, but then the . . .

Michael Anton, the director of Policy Planning Staff at the State Department, will leave the department this fall, the Trump administration has confirmed. He served in key roles in the administration’s foreign policy initiatives, including as the technical lead for the Iran nuclear negotiations and the lead author of its national security strategy. Anton worked for the National Security Council during the George W. Bush administration and served as deputy assistant to the president for strategic communications during the first Trump administration. His 2016 essay “The Flight 93 Election,” which argued that electing Donald Trump was necessary for the survival of American civilization, launched him into the position of one of the MAGA movement’s key intellectuals. The reason for Anton’s exit, and whether he will remain in the administration in some other capacity or remain entirely, have yet to be confirmed. The post Michael Anton to Leave State Department appeared first on The American Conservative.

Animals, much like people, need the basics of survival in order to thrive: food, water, shelter from harsh elements, and some form of companionship. It's not uncommon to see wild animals and not think much about us having similar basic needs, but I also haven't met a person yet who doesn't internally squeal with delight at the sight of two otters holding hands while floating down a river.Point being, animals and humans have similar needs and sometimes wants, though it's unclear if the animals this forest explorer encounters need access to water or if they simply want a swimming hole where they can pal around with their neighbors. Do animals need companionship more than we think? Giphy In an adorable video uploaded to social media, a man exploring a forest in Brazil decides to dig a small hole in the ground and fill it with water. Doesn't sound that adorable, does it? Well, this wasn't just a hole that would eventually disappear when the water absorbed into the ground. It was made to last, making it a new, semi-permanent pond in the jungle.The unnamed man fits the hole with what looks like a black plastic tarp that goes in the bottom of a pond, holding it in place with large stones. He then sets up a camera on a nearby stake he places in the ground to film what happens after he leaves. The results make it difficult to contain a smile. It seems almost immediately after the sun rises there's a menagerie of different animals coming to check out the new watering hole.First, two green birds that look like either parakeets or Brazilian parrots arrive. Then, another larger bird comes by. In the time-lapsed video, birds dominated the manmade puddle of fresh water. They drank, played, flapped around in the water, just having the best bird time before a new animal shows up. This time it's a pair of adorable baby jaguarundi who are quickly joined by two more slightly larger cubs, all drinking from the hole.At one point, a giant lizard decided that the new watering hole made a good pool so he laid his entire body in it. It's not clear if any of the animals wanted a drink while the lizard was having a rest, but the next shot is of a large bird looking directly at the camera as if it were tattling. Watch the magical timelapse video here:The man, who prepared a small puddle in the forest in Brazil, wondered and recorded the creatures that would benefit from this water byu/0len inMadeMeSmileCommenters loved the fun video of animals checking out the little makeshift pond in the middle of the forest."The biodiversity is truly staggering. The baby mountain lions were the cutest. Also the disrespect of the monitor lizard just lying in it was hilarious," one person says."All of those animals having a drink, a bath, some fun... except that one bird, face in the camera, going 'It's a trap!'" someone jokes."I don't get anything anywhere near as cool as these beasts, but setting up a big bird bath + another one at ground level right near my study window was the best investment I've ever made in my yard. Daily I get at least 20 different birds of 4-5 different species drop by for a drink/bath along with a few lizards, and at night there's everything from possums to koalas having a sip," another says.'Someone else comments on the beauty of it all, saying, "It’s kind of incredible just how many diverse critters live out in the forests of Brazil."Some commenters brought up the obvious question: Is it OK for the man to have interfered in the natural habitat like this? What happens if and when the pond dries up? Humans have destroyed enough rainforest that a little man-made pond isn't going to hurt anything. Photo by Paulius Dragunas on Unsplash The Wildlife Conservation Network writes that conservationists may intervene in nature when the threat faced by animals is not natural, or is man-made. They write that it's wrong to scare off gazelles before a hungry lion comes along to eat them, as that has a direct impact on the natural food chain. But you could argue that with immense man-made destruction and deforestation of habitats in Brazil, a small puddle that brings fresh water and a sense of community to the animals is fair play, and won't ultimately have a big impact on the ecosystem.The way the animals responded to the pond makes it seem like they've been waiting around their whole lives for someone to build one. No squabbling or one species trying to stake claim—they all took turns enjoying a drink or playing. It's quite sweet how seemingly cooperative they all were. They'll get good use from that small watering hole for a while thanks to a curious human with a camera.This article originally appeared in April. It has been updated.

Toddlers can be a handful, but they're also the absolute best, with their tiny little adorableness, their burgeoning vocabulary, and their slowly evolving understanding of the world. Their imaginations are something else, and spending time in a wee one's world is always an unpredictable treat. Being the parent of a toddler is a unique joy that only lasts for a fleeting season, so you have to take full advantage of it while you can. And one dad has clearly done just that.Christopher Kyle is father to Ava, who at 18 months old treated her dad to a meal at her sit-down restaurant. Only according to Kyle, the service left much to be desired. In a post on Instagram, Kyle shared a photo of Ava in her play kitchen while he sat waiting for his food in a tiny chair at a tiny table. See on Instagram The father/customer wrote:"So I tried to support another Black Owned Business for lunch today. It's called Ava's Kitchen, just opened end of April. It's a very clean establishment, but whewww let me tell you about this owner.First off, I asked why there are balloons on my chair, and it's not my birthday? She talm'bout, mind yah business; those are Mommy's.I been waiting on my order to get done for 45 minutes, and I'm the only customer here. She was making good progress at first, then she stopped for 20 minutes to go watch Paw Patrol. Paw Patrol Dog GIF by Xbox Giphy Overall the customer service could be better, but the cook is a cutie; so I'll give her another chance. Let's not give up on Black businesses so fast after one mistake. ?"People absolutely loved this dad's humor and clearly stellar parenting skills. Anyone who has sat through a tea party—or any activity with the wee ones—knows that for all of its cuteness, toddler play is an exercise in patience and endurance.Upworthy shared Kyle's story on our Instagram page and our readers did not disappoint.Some played right along with the game:"Starting a restaurant is tough.. give her a chance ❤️❤️""I mean, she started a restaurant during a global pandemic, give her a break ?" See on Instagram "Is she taking reservations?"Fans of Paw Patrol had some words:"Paw Patrol is a must watch so ??♀️?""I died at Paw Patrol ??? that's my show though. I don't have kids I just watch it just because lmao.""Paw Patrol break is mandatory. Too cute! ♥️"Others just gushed over the entire scene:"Love EVERYTHING about this!! The adorable owner, the customer's humor and the incredible love.""That's the cutest restaurant owner I've ever seen. The dad's face is priceless! ??❤️""LoL the story is funny & beautiful!!! This warms my heart!! This babygirl will grow up to have such a healthy look at men (in any capacity) as long as she & her Daddy keep such a beautiful bond!! Happy Father's Day (early) Keep encouraging her to do her thing and her confidence will continue to soar!! I just love this!! ???"Since that post went viral, Ava and her dad have had some other creative adventures, including building things at Home Depot's free kids weekend workshop: See on Instagram Will Ava be a restaurant owner, a carpenter, or something totally different when she grows up? Who knows, but with her dad's support, no doubt she'll build success wherever she ends up. This article originally appeared five years ago and has been updated.

In 2020, an Oregon, Ohio, police dispatcher and the daughter of a domestic abuse victim were lauded for their response to a violent situation. Dispatcher Tim Teneyck was manning the phone lines when a curious call came in that he first assumed was a prank. "I would like to order a pizza," the 911 caller said, giving a residential address. "You called 911 to order a pizza?" a bemused Teneyck asked. "This is the wrong number to call for a pizza." "No, no, no, no, you're not understanding," the woman insisted."I'm getting you now," Teneyck quickly replied. "We'll get 'em going.""Is the other guy still there?" Teneyck asked"I need a large pizza," the woman said."How about medical, do you need medical?" Teneyck replied. "No," the woman replied."With pepperoni," the woman continued. "We'll get 'em going," Teneyck stated before asking if the woman can stay on the phone."No," the woman replied before the call ends. - YouTube www.youtube.com Teneyck realized she needed emergency assistance because of her persistence. "She stuck right to it," he told Inside Edition. "I knew there was something else going on." The dispatcher told police to go to the house with their sirens off saying "there's domestic violence going on." When police arrived, they saw the call was from a young woman whose mother was assaulted by her boyfriend, Simon Lopez.According to the young woman, Lopez came home drunk saying he was going to "beat her ass" before punching her and throwing her into a wall. "I was thinking to myself, 'I need to call 911, but how do I get him to stay in the house so he will be taken out in handcuffs,' and I just thought, 'Pizza!'" the woman told Inside Edition.Simon Lopez, 56, was arrested by police and charged with misdemeanor domestic violence. Lopez also had a warrant out for failure to appear. "I thank him from the bottom of my heart," the woman said of Teneyck. Simon Lopez was arrested and charged with domestic violence.via Inside Edition The next day, Oregon Police Chief Mike Navarre praised Teneyck as well."He utilized his training and his experience to recognize that a woman was in distress," Navarre told NBC News. "We have no way of knowing what would have happened if she didn't get through."After the incident, the dispatcher and police chief learned that some support groups teach people to report domestic violence surreptitiously to 911 by pretending to order Chinese food or pizza. When the operator says, "You have the wrong number," the person reporting the violence is supposed to say, "No." - YouTube www.youtube.com The practice was highlighted in the 2018 Super Bowl commercial ad by No More, an organization that raises awareness about domestic violence. When this dispatcher asks if it's a joke, she says, "No," so he asks if it's an emergency, and she says, "Yes." The ad concludes with a message: "When it's hard to talk, it's up to us to listen." Navarre is using the call to train other dispatchers on how to realize if someone is in trouble and can't express it in words. "A good dispatcher is going to recognize that this is a person who wants to talk and needs help. That is exactly what happened here," he said. "Some dispatchers might hang up on this person, but it's worth a try to give it your best shot. That's what she did, and it worked out extremely well."To get support, resources, and hope for anyone affected by domestic violence in the U.S. call 1.800.799-SAFE (7233).This article originally appeared five years ago.

Some legends. The post The 1960s bands that helped shape Ozzy Osbourne first appeared on Far Out Magazine.

I’m no fanboy of Taylor Swift. At one point about a year ago, I asked my wife and daughters to alert me when one of her songs started playing, so I could have a vague idea of what the big deal is. Even now, after hearing several of her songs repeatedly, I couldn’t name a damned one of them. They sound mostly the same to me. Yeah, I know. Old fuddy-duddy dads say that about the music of whatever current youth generation. Your old man griped about Elvis and the Beatles sounding alike. Of course, the difference was that that music didn’t sound the same, whereas much of today’s mass-produced junk does. But I digress! I’m also no fan of Ms. Swift’s left-wing politics. Last year, Tay Tay stuck her pretty little nose in the presidential race, dropping an obnoxious, vacuous, pre-scripted endorsement of Kamala Harris minutes after the presidential debate. Swift babbled some adolescent, pelvis-obsessed mumbo-jumbo about “LGBTQ+ rights, IVF, and a woman’s right to her own body.” While I’m at it, I’m also no fan of Swift’s boyfriend, Travis Kelce. I say that mainly because I’m not a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs. They’re simply not my team, having been born and bred in black and gold for my beloved Pittsburgh Steelers. Still, I have great respect for him and his Chiefs (and his quarterback, Patrick Mahomes) for their remarkable accomplishments on the football field. The man is a first-ballot Hall of Famer. I’m also no fan of Kelce’s stumping for Pfizer, the pharmaceutical company that during COVID gave us the infamous mRNA clot-shot, marketed as a “vaccine” that liberals (big proponents of “my-body-my-choice”) tried to force us all to take, even when we had medical or conscience objections. Travis has become a poster boy for Pfizer, prompting the excellent Aaron Rodgers to dub him “Mr. Pfizer.” (My teenage son has dubbed Kelce “Mr. Swift.”) But, with all of that said, I must here confess that I am a big fan of the decision made this past week by Swift and Kelce. They announced to the world and fans everywhere that they are engaged. I had actually written a piece after the Super Bowl back in February (for another publication), urging Swift and Kelce to get hitched. I had been prompted by the “big news” circulating when a reporter had asked Kelce if he planned to pop the question to the pop star. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” Kelce quipped. Asked if was planning on a ring, he slyly replied: “A Super Bowl ring? Next question.”  My interest in Kelce’s response was less pop culture than moral culture. From my keyboard, I lectured the Chief that this isn’t something to chuckle at, particularly given the massive influence of his celebrity girlfriend. Taylor Swift is a gigantic role model to girls. That’s one of the reasons that her pal Kamala was ga-ga over Tay Tay’s political endorsement. And given her influence, it is not good for young girls to observe Swift and her football big-shot prancing all over the planet together. The unmarried gal and guy romp and roll half-naked on beaches and share hotel beds.  In other words, they do the things that married couples do. They also do it with wads of money. Kelce is rich from football — worth tens of millions of dollars. As for Swift, she’s a literal billionaire. With that kind of cash, Swift can frolic with her boyfriend carefree. But as for her fans, those girls cannot afford that kind of lifestyle. They need boyfriends who don’t treat them like rich playthings. They need stability and commitment. Swift was raised as a working-class girl in Reading, Pennsylvania (my sister lived there at the time). But as sociologist and longtime friend of The American Spectator Charles Murray has noted in his disturbing book, Coming Apart, it is precisely that working class that has been decimated. That class is plagued by unmarried girls struggling to support kids because the guys who used them for sex had no desire to marry them and treat them as wives and man up to take care of their shared children. These poor girls become “baby mamas.”  Whereas Tay Tay is worth a cool $1.6 bil, those girls are lucky if they can afford daycare. My point was that if Swift is going to be a role model for girls, then she should model marriage. She and Kelce should get engaged and get married.  But honestly, I wasn’t optimistic. I figured this celebrity couple would implode like most of them do, relegating themselves to the ash heap of other sad tabloid romances. And yet, that is apparently not the case. I’m happy to hear of their announcement this week. Now, if I may go further.  Let’s see Taylor Swift take an even bolder, braver, and more natural-moral step that would really make her a marvel to girldom. Let’s see her and Kelce go through with the marriage plans — full ceremony, in a church, wedding gown, bridesmaids and groomsmen, and walk down that aisle, sooner rather than later, without delays. Moreover, let’s see them have a baby.  Yes, a baby. A married man and woman who become one flesh. A child. And to borrow from Sydney Sweeney — one with obviously great genes. Why not? The world knows the two are having lots of sex, and they’re obviously contracepting. Well, let’s see the couple take a most beautiful step together and give the gift of life to a baby girl or boy. Now that’s something I would really be a fan of.

The Neighborhood Kitchen was the center of an episode of "Gordon Ramsay's Secret Service." He attempted to improve the restaurant. Here's what happened after.