Remember those thrilling movie scenes where the protagonist, impeccably dressed, steps into a bustling casino, the air thick with anticipation, the clinking of chips, and the hypnotic hum of slot machines? Those vibrant, neon-drenched settings CONTINUE READING... The post The Enduring Allure of Neon: How 80s & 90s Films Defined Casino Cool appeared first on The Retro Network.

For many of us who grew up glued to the TV on Friday nights, The Dukes of Hazzard was pure joy. The show had everything: high‑flying car chases, the irresistible charm of Bo and Luke CONTINUE READING... The post The Strange Story of Coy and Vance Duke appeared first on The Retro Network.

Use of a “sonic weapon” in the overnight capture of a country’s leader might sound like something out of a science fiction novel, but experts confirm that sort of technology exists. U.S. military use of sound as a non-lethal weapon “is credible” and “has been demonstrated,” according to Brent Sadler, a senior research fellow at The Heritage Foundation who focuses on naval warfare and advanced technology. Following the U.S. military operation in Venezuela to capture socialist leader Nicolás Maduro, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt shared a post on X describing what an alleged Venezuelan security guard said was “a very intense sound wave” deployed by the U.S. military during the operation. “Suddenly, I felt like my head was exploding from the inside. We all started bleeding from the nose. Some were vomiting blood. We fell to the ground, unable to move,” according to the account initially posted by political activist Mike Netter and reposted by Leavitt. “We had no way to compete with their technology, with their weapons,” the security guard continued. “I swear, I’ve never seen anything like it. We couldn’t even stand up after that sonic weapon or whatever it was.” Stop what you are doing and read this… ?????????? https://t.co/v9OsbdLn1q— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) January 10, 2026 About three decades ago, the U.S. established the Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate at the then-Department of Defense, which President Donald Trump renamed the Department of War in 2025. The initiative was re-designated in 2020 as the Joint Intermediate Force Capabilities Office. The development and use of non-lethal weapons “enables U.S. and allied forces to deliver accurate, tailorable, and compelling effects in complex and ambiguous scenarios while preventing unintended escalation of hostilities, unnecessary loss of life, or destruction of critical infrastructure,” according to the Joint Intermediate Force Capabilities Office. The original intent of the initiative was the development of non-lethal weapons for “operations such as peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance,” the government office says, adding that now there is a need for such weapons “in irregular warfare operations such as counterinsurgency, counterterrorism, stability operations, and counter-piracy.” Retired Marine Corps Col. Mark F. Cancian says he has not heard of a weapon that matches the description of the one portrayed in the account Leavitt shared. However, the U.S. military does use a device called a Long Range Acoustic Device, or LRAD. The device is a bit like a megaphone that “focuses all of its audio in a very tight cone,” Cancian, who now serves as a senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, says. “It sounds like the voice of God. It is very loud,” Cancian said. “And I can imagine that if you cranked up the volume, you could have effects on people … perhaps some disruption in their functions.” The U.S. military has also used “flashbangs” for years, Cancian explained. A “flashbang grenade” is a non-lethal device that shines a very bright light and makes a loud noise. In the roughly 15 years since Cancian worked at the Pentagon, he says it is possible new technologies similar to an LRAD or “flashbang grenade” have been developed. The Pentagon declined to comment on reports of the use of a non-lethal sound weapon in Venezuela. The use of lights and sounds as “non-lethal options” has “matured a lot over the years, but they haven’t really been deployed at scale,” Sadler said. “So, the fact that the special forces might have used these is interesting,” he noted of the Jan. 3 operation in Venezuela. The use of something like a high sound frequency provides a distraction and “buys your special operators seconds to make critical decisions,” Sadler said. Of the U.S. non-lethal sound weapons he knows, Sadler said they are intended to be “reversible” in their effect, and once the sound is turned off or a person gets away from it, “there’s no lasting impact.” The post What’s the Rumored ‘Sonic Weapon’ Used in Venezuela Raid?   appeared first on The Daily Signal.

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to send a contempt of Congress citation against former President Bill Clinton to the House floor, for not cooperating with the probe into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.  The vote to hold former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in contempt for her failure to cooperate was closer, but still bipartisan, as three Democrats broke to vote with Republicans.  Nine Democrats on the Oversight Committee joined 25 Republicans to hold Bill Clinton in contempt of Congress, for a 34-8 vote. The vote to hold Hillary Clinton in contempt passed 28-15.  The two contempt citations now head to the House floor for potential consideration by the full chamber. Contempt of Congress is a charge that can carry up to 12 months in prison or $100,000. Here are the Democrats who voted to hold Bill Clinton in contempt of Congress: Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill. Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa. Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass. Rep. Emily Randall, D-Wash. Rep. Lateefah Simon, D-Calif. Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich. Here are the three Democrats who voted to hold Hillary Clinton in contempt:  Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa. Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich. The post These Democrats Voted to Hold Clintons in Contempt for Obstructing Epstein Probe appeared first on The Daily Signal.

The Department of Homeland Security announced “Operation Catch of the Day” on Wednesday, with federal immigration agents arriving in Maine to find and arrest criminal illegal aliens. The agency noted that Immigration and Customs Enforcement has already arrested criminal illegal aliens convicted of endangering the welfare of a child and aggravated assault.   “We have launched Operation Catch of the Day to target the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens in the state,” said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.   DHS has launched similar “named” operations in cities and states across the U.S., including Operation Patriot in Massachusetts, Operation Catahoula Crunch in New Orleans, Operation Buckeye in Ohio, Operation Charlotte’s Web in Charlotte, North Carolina, Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago, and Operation Metro Surge in the Twin Cities.  OPERATION CATCH OF THE DAY.On the first day of operations in Maine, we arrested illegal aliens convicted of aggravated assault, false imprisonment, and child abuse.@GovJanetMills and her fellow sanctuary politicians have made it abundantly clear that they would rather stand…— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) January 21, 2026 “The reality is that ICE is active nationwide, but it typically draws media attention only during large-scale operations,” Marguerite Telford, director of communications at the Center for Immigration Studies, says.   The Department of Homeland Security does not publicize future locations of where it plans to launch a large-scale operation, but there are a number of communities across the U.S. with high populations of illegal aliens that have yet to large immigration enforcement operations.   Boston  Telford gave a “reasonable guess that DHS may launch a large operation in Boston, “where both the governor and mayor have publicly opposed ICE enforcement efforts.”   Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, a Democrat, has accused ICE of “cruel and callous behavior.”   Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, also a Democrat, said ICE operations “are destabilizing communities, creating intimidation, fear.”  Boston is a sanctuary city, and the state has policies that limit local and state law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration officials.   “If local officials want to avoid enforcement surges in their cities, they should allow ICE access to local jails so officers can safely take custody of criminal aliens without risking public safety,” Telford says.   New York State While immigration agents have conducted operations in New York City, Simon Hankinson, a senior research fellow for the Border Security and Immigration Center at The Heritage Foundation, says large operations outside the city might carry strategic value.   In communities in upstate New York “without large leftie concentrations,” local law enforcement have a higher likelihood of working with federal immigration officials to find and detain illegal aliens, Hankinson explains.   Hartford, Connecticut   There are 64,000 “noncitizens” living in Hartford and 265,400 across Connecticut, according to the research and advocacy group Vera Institute of Justice.   In August, ICE conducted a four-day operation in Connecticut, resulting in the apprehension of 65 illegal aliens, according to DHS.   Connecticut is a “sanctuary” state, according to the Department of Justice.   New Jersey  In early 2024, bus loads of illegal aliens were dropped off in New Jersey, which maintains a large migrant population, according to the Immigration Policy Institute.   New Jersey’s “unauthorized population” is estimated around 476,000, the policy group reports.   While New Jersey is not a sanctuary state, Newark and Jersey City, the state’s two largest cities, are sanctuary cities, according to the DOJ.   Seattle   As of 2023, about 375,000 illegal aliens lived in Washington state, making up about 5% of the state’s population, according to Axios.   Seattle is the largest city in Washington, and an ICE field office already exists in the city, but DHS has not reported significant enforcement operations in the West Coast community.   Seattle is a “sanctuary city,” according to the DOJ.   The post With ICE Agents Arriving in Maine, Where Will They Deploy Next?  appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Iran Makes Threats As Trump Considers His Options

Cops Are Being Treated Awfully Everywhere - Even in Kennels

An official of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration explained how they successfully performed a medical evacuation from space for the first time in space operations history. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman gave as many details as he could about the incident while being interviewed by Blaze Media co-founder Glenn Beck on Wednesday. 'It was a very serious situation, something we had not seen before in space.'Four astronauts returned to Earth on Thursday, including the ailing member of the crew. They splashed down in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego. Isaacman touted the extraordinary training that U.S. astronauts undergo while offering some details about the historic incident. "One of the greatest accomplishments that we've done at the International Space Station is the continuous human presence in space over a quarter of a century," he told Beck. He went on to say that the environment in space is extremely harsh on the human body and requires many safety precautions. "This is why we do extensive training. Our astronauts are practically physicians; in fact, many of them are," he explained. "Everyone did an extraordinary job," Isaacman said of the "unexpected health-related" incident. "The Crew 11 astronauts, their other expedition mates on the International Space Station, the flight surgeons in mission control, they all responded accordingly. The incident was stabilized very quickly," he added. Isaacman was restricted by medical privacy rules from offering specific details on the incident. "Clearly, it was a very serious situation, something we had not seen before in space but had accounted for the possibility. And that is why we put in motion the option to bring our astronauts home early, which I think really speaks to American leadership in space," he continued. RELATED: Director of Glenn Beck's disaster response charity undermines Democrat attack on Trump admin's response to Texas flood.@NASAAdmin Jared Isaacman gives an inside look at the world's first ever medical evacuation from space: "This is why we do extensive training...clearly, it was a very serious situation, something we had not seen before in space, but had accounted for the possibility.That is… pic.twitter.com/wKLHKNF4zq— Glenn Beck (@glennbeck) January 21, 2026 "We can send our astronauts up more or less on command, which is what we're going to do with Crew 12, is pull their mission forward," Isaacman added. "And we can bring our astronauts home as required. And this is very important to President Trump and obviously his position on American supremacy in space." The four astronauts were transported to a medical facility in San Diego by NASA. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A 35-year-old Indian student says he was told that curry stinks, but sandwiches do not.Aditya Prakash and his fiancée, Urmi Bhattacheryya, won a settlement of $200,000 from the University of Colorado Boulder in a story dripping with progressivism.'My food is my pride, and notions about what smells good or bad to someone are culturally determined.'The BBC described the ordeal as a case of "food racism" while outlet Indian Express said Prakash was the "target of racism" over his microwaved food.Ate crimeThe couple reportedly claimed they faced a series of "microaggressions and retaliatory actions" after a staff member at the university — who was British, according to the BBC — complained about the "smell" of the food Prakash had in the microwave.The staffer allegedly said the food was giving off a "pungent" odor and informed Prakash there was a rule against heating foods that have strong odors. Prakash reportedly claimed there was no such rule publicly stated and said, "It's just food. I'm heating and leaving."The Indian also said he later inquired what foods were considered pungent. He was allegedly told that smelly foods included curry but not sandwiches.In a pickleThe couple claimed they soon lost their research funding and teaching roles, and a lawsuit followed. Prakash claimed it was not about money, though. "It was about making a point — that there are consequences to discriminating against Indians for their 'Indianness,'" he said.RELATED: Illegal alien truckers with California licenses accused of hauling $7M in cocaine across state lines Photo by John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images Prakash also claimed he was a victim of "systemic racism" because his department "refused to grant" his Master's degree."That's when we decided to seek legal recourse," he said.The May 2025 lawsuit alleged discriminatory treatment and a "pattern of escalating retaliation" but was settled with the university that September. The terms reportedly include giving the students their degrees while denying all liabilities and banning them from studying or working at the school in the future.Paneer missThe dish at the center of the controversy is called palak paneer, which, according to cooking website Hooked on Heat, contains some strong ingredients.The main parts of the dish include spinach and paneer, a soft white cheese considered to be the Indian version of cottage cheese. Also added to the dish are onion, ginger, garlic, chili powder, garam masala (Indian spices), and more.Prakash reportedly argued that his food only stinks according to some people."My food is my pride, and notions about what smells good or bad to someone are culturally determined," he posited.Cruciferous contextA counterargument he allegedly faced was that even broccoli is not allowed to be heated because of its odor, but Prakash claimed that "context matters," before adding, "How many groups of people do you know who face racism because they eat broccoli?"His fiancée says that President Trump's re-election has caused a "narrowing of empathy" toward foreigners."Institutions talk a lot about inclusion, but there is less patience for discomfort, especially if that discomfort comes from immigrants or people of colour," she claimed.RELATED: Young white Americans want their own identity politics now — and conservatives shouldn’t be surprised Currying favorThe university told BBC that while it cannot comment on the specifics of the claims due to privacy laws, it is "committed to fostering an inclusive environment for all students, faculty and staff regardless of national origin, religion, culture and other classes protected under U.S. laws and by university policies.""When these allegations arose in 2023, we took them seriously and adhered to established, robust processes to address them, as we do with all claims of discrimination and harassment," the school continued. "We reached an agreement with the students in September [2025] and deny any liability in this case."The couple has reportedly not since returned to the United States, with Prakash saying he is willing to start over. "If this case can send out a message that this ('food racism') cannot be practiced with impunity, that we, as Indians, will fight back, that would be the real victory," he said, per Indian Express.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Public DomainOn July 13, 1978, a proton beam went straight through the head of Russian physicist Anatoli Bugorski, but he somehow survived. From the Chernobyl disaster to the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the horrors of radiation exposure can send chills down anyone’s spine. Symptoms of radiation sickness can range from nausea, vomiting, and seizures to sepsis, cardiovascular collapse, and often death. Even beneficial uses of radiation, such as in cancer treatments, may cause severe side effects. Radiation can be fatal at just 5 grays (Gy). Cancer patients generally receive between 45 and 60 Gys broken down into smaller doses over a few weeks. But in 1978, one physicist was exposed to over 3,000 Gys at once — 600 times the fatal dose. And he survived. This is the incredible story of Anatoli Bugorski. The Proton Accelerator Accident Royalty-Free/CorbisAnatoli Bugorski is the only known person to have been directly exposed to a particle accelerator beam. Anatoli Petrovich Bugorski was born in the Soviet Union on June 25, 1942. In 1978, at the age of 36, he was working as a particle physicist at the Institute for High Energy Physics in Protvino, a small town about 60 miles south of Moscow. Protvino had been established as a Cold War-era science boomtown, created for the primary purpose of nuclear research. There, scientists could live with their families and conduct their top-secret work far away from prying eyes. Bugorski was working on the U-70 synchrotron, a nuclear particle accelerator that, at the time it was built in 1967, generated the highest-energy beam in the world. While that record has since been broken, it is still the highest-energy accelerator in Russia. On July 13, 1978, Bugorski leaned into the synchrotron to check a malfunction — without realizing the safety mechanism had been turned off. All of a sudden, Bugorski experienced a flash “brighter than a thousand suns,” according to Discover Magazine. He had unwittingly put his head in the direct path of the main proton beam, which entered through the back of his head and exited through his nose. Bugorski was blasted with 3,000 Gys of radiation. He was rushed to the hospital for treatment, though most of the doctors and scientists involved in his care were convinced he was a dead man walking. They were wrong. The Incredible Survival Story Of Anatoli Bugorski Wikimedia CommonsThe U-70 synchrotron control room. Despite having been hit with hundreds of fatal doses of radiation all at once, Anatoli Bugorski felt no pain. Of course, Bugorski didn’t walk away from his accident completely unscathed. The proton beam had gone straight through his head. The left side of his face swelled up, and over the next few days, the skin that had come in contact with the beam blistered and peeled off. Soon, doctors examining Bugorski could see the path the beam had taken through his face, bone, and brain tissue by the burn it left behind. Before Bugorski’s incident, nobody knew what would happen to a person exposed to radiation in such a concentrated form. Understandably, doctors assumed he’d be dead in a matter of days. But against all odds, he lived to tell the tale. “This is, in effect, an unintended test of proton warfare,” Bugorski said, according to Wired. “I am being tested. The human capacity for survival is being tested.” To this day, it is unknown why Bugorski didn’t experience more damage from the accident. Some scientists have theorized that Bugorski was able to survive because of the narrow concentration of nuclear energy. Most deaths from radiation poisoning come from general exposure, such as in Chernobyl or Hiroshima and Nagasaki, where radiation seeped across victims’ entire bodies. However, this theory is difficult to test, as Bugorski is still the only person known to have suffered this form of high-energy radiation exposure. Anatoli Bugorski’s Mostly Normal Life Post-Accident Andrey Solomonov/Global Look PressThe accident left half of Bugorski’s face paralyzed and stopped it from aging. Anatoli Bugorski’s skin gradually healed from his accident. However, the burns left half of his face permanently paralyzed. In fact, as the right side of his face aged, the left side has remained frozen in time since 1978. Still, Bugorski walked away from the accident mostly unscathed. The beam of highly concentrated radiation had torn through his occipital lobe, responsible for visual processing, and his temporal lobe, responsible for sensory input and retention, such as language comprehension and memory. But Bugorski suffered virtually no intellectual damage, going on to complete his Ph.D. and continue his research at the Institute for High Energy Physics. Over the years, he has suffered from occasional seizures and mental fatigue. He also lost hearing in his left ear. Otherwise, Bugorski, who is now in his eighties, has remained in surprisingly good health. Despite being the only known person to have been exposed to the effects of a super-powered nuclear accelerator, Anatoli Bugorski has rarely discussed his accident publicly, even nearly 50 years after the fact. The confidential nature of Russia’s nuclear research during the Cold War meant that he was unable to talk about his accident for about a decade. When the news finally broke, he was lauded as “a poster boy for Soviet and Russian radiation medicine,” according to Wired. Bugorski has also expressed his willingness to participate in studies or research by Western universities and institutions. Unfortunately, he has never had the money to leave Protvino, where he reportedly still lives to this day with his wife and adult son. After reading about the physicist who survived a blast of nuclear radiation, read about the man who was kept alive for 83 days against his will after a radiation accident in Japan. Or, read about the 14-pound plutonium orb known as the ‘Demon Core’ that killed two scientists in New Mexico. The post The Peculiar Story Of Anatoli Bugorski, The Scientist Who Stuck His Head In A Proton Accelerator And Lived To Tell The Tale appeared first on All That's Interesting.