If you’ve had to change your buying habits at the supermarket lately to save money, you’re not alone. The stratospheric rise in food prices in the past three years has forced many families to forgo groceries they used to enjoy in exchange for cheaper alternatives. This change in consumer behavior is emblematic of the painful decisions American families must make in the Biden-Harris economy. Disturbingly, nationwide data is even showing the resurgence of an economic phenomenon made infamous in the 19th-century Irish potato famine. When a blight decimated the potato crop in Ireland, the supply of potatoes dwindled, and their prices rose dramatically. Normally, higher prices cause consumers to demand less of a product or service, but not this time. Instead, demand for meat and other foodstuffs collapsed, and consumers tried to buy more potatoes. The blight reduced the supply of potatoes available, so the Irish were able to buy fewer of them—and tragically, many people starved. But why did the Irish want more potatoes and less meat at precisely the time the former became much more expensive? The answer lies less in the rapid rise of food prices and more in the relative prices between those foods. Let’s say an Irish family previously bought 4 pounds of potatoes for $1 a pound each and 1 pound of meat for $2, spending $6 in total. If potatoes jump to $2 a pound and meat increases to $2.10 a pound, then the family must spend $10 for the same weight of food, except now it’s all potatoes. They’re spending two-thirds more and getting a lower-quality meal. Even if all food prices were rising in Ireland, potatoes remained the cheapest food available, so demand for them skyrocketed. Disturbingly, the United States is now seeing a similar shift in consumer food purchases. Recent survey data published by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas show food manufacturers have seen a significant increase in consumer demand for sausage—even though the price of sausage has risen substantially, while demand for more expensive protein, such as steak, has fallen. The same economic phenomenon that increased demand for potatoes in 19th-century Ireland despite higher potato prices is causing Americans to buy more sausage in the face of higher sausage prices. There is simply little else many families can afford today. To be clear, most Americans aren’t starving like the Irish did back then. We have a much larger economy, even on a per capita basis. But Americans are going into debt to afford even the cheapest groceries. Credit card balances now exceed $1.1 trillion, and for the first time, Americans are spending more than $300 billion annually just in interest on credit card debt. There are even financing companies created in the past few years that extend credit only for groceries. Prices have risen so much faster than earnings in the past four years that people can’t afford to feed themselves and their families. The primary source of today’s food-price inflation has been runaway government spending and borrowing. By January, the Biden-Harris administration will have added $8.3 trillion in federal debt and run down the Treasury’s cash balance by $1 trillion. That’s a net overspend of $9.3 trillion in four years—a record that surpasses that of any other administration. And that includes former President Donald Trump‘s term, which was inflated by emergency COVID-19 spending. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will be responsible for one-quarter of federal debt accrued in a span of nearly 250 years. It’s no surprise then that food prices continue setting records and that families are forced to buy the cheapest meat available. Public policies have consequences—sometimes disastrous consequences. Originally published by The Washington Times The post Potato-Famine Economics, Courtesy of Biden-Harris appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Freemasonry might be the most misunderstood "secret" society in the world. Is it a religion? A cult? A group of men planning to overthrow the world's political leader to unleash their own agenda on us? The answer to all of those questions is a resounding, "no," which leaves us scratching our heads. Learning about the Freemasons can be as difficult as finding a non-blurred Bigfoot in the woods. Source

Hunter: On Second Thought, I'm *Actually* Guilty

Click to Skip Ahead About Boxie Glo Natural Attractions Cat Litter Overview Key Features Is It A Good Value? FAQ Our Experience Our Final Verdict We give Boxie’s Glo Natural Attractions Cat Litter a rating of 4.75 out of 5 stars. Attraction: 5/5 Clumping Ability: 4.9/5 Odor Control: 4.6/5 Value: 4.8/5 Check Price on Boxiecat Picking the right cat litter isn’t something most cat owners think about until they have to. This usually happens after you get fed up with lingering odors, hard-to-scoop clumps, or after your cat ends up at the vet for a kidney or urinary tract infection. If any of these issues have you rethinking your litter choice, Boxie’s Glo Natural Attractions Clumping Clay Litter may be worth considering. This natural litter features visual and odor cues to help encourage cats to use the litter box correctly and more frequently. It’s also designed to form hard, easy-scoop clumps and absorb odors for up to thirty days. I had a chance to try this unique odor for my cat, Makoa. I was looking for something that would do a better job of absorbing odors and keeping my automatic litter box cleaner. The fun UV glo, pleasing texture, and other attractants were bonuses that my cat certainly appreciated. Keep reading to find out how well this new litter worked for us and to see my full Boxie Glo Natural Attractions Clumping Clay Litter review. About Boxie Boxie is a subscription litter company run by cat owners for cat owners. All of their products are made with safe ingredients and designed to tackle common litter box issues to make life better for humans and cats alike. They are committed to sustainability, using natural ingredients, and making things easier for cat owners everywhere. Their products are endorsed by veterinarians worldwide and are easy to use thanks to their subscription delivery approach. Where Is Boxie Cat Litter Made? All Boxie cat litters are made in the USA using US-sourced clay and plant-based additives. The company is based out of Santa Monica, California. Who Is Boxie Cat Litter Best Suited For? Boxie’s Glo Natural Attractions Clumping Clay Litter is an effective choice for cats who struggle with accidents outside of the litter box as well as those who have a history of UTIs, kidney issues, or FLUTD. This litter has multiple attractant features to entice kitties to use the litter box and use it often. Boxie also has a number of other litter products that cater to cats of all types. They have multiple probiotic-based litters that help keep odors down and reduce the need for frequent cleaning. Their natural litter line includes plant-based and biodegradable options for those with an eye for sustainability. You can also choose from scented and unscented varieties as well as from clay and crystal options. Glo Natural Attractions Cat Litter Overview Check Price on Boxiecat Here is an overview of Boxie’s Glo Natural Attractions Clumping Clay Litter. We’ll look at the ingredients, how it works, its cleaning features, and the subscription option. Ingredients Each bag of Glo Natural Attractions Clumping Clay Litter contains just four simple ingredients. The first is premium clay sourced in the United States. This ingredient is key to Glo’s capable clumping ability. The second ingredient is silica gel. This combined with a UV reflective coating creates the fun “glo” feature of this unique cat litter. The last ingredient is an olfactory attractant used to help cats find the litter. How It Works This litter uses three separate features to attract cats to the litter box to do their duty. The first and most unique is the use of UV crystals. These clear pieces are scattered throughout the clay litter. While they may not look like much to us, they put on quite the sparkling show for cats. This is because cats can see well into the UV spectrum of light. Scientists believe they developed this ability to help them hunt, as it allows them to better track movement, differentiate prey from the landscape, and even track animals using fluorescent urine trails. Because cats are attracted to UV light, they are more likely to investigate this litter. The second trick lies in the added olfactory attractant. This scent, which is undetectable to humans, calls cats like a loudspeaker. It not only makes the litter box easier to find but entices them to get inside and experience that instinctually attracting scent up close and personal. Lastly, the soft, smooth feel of this litter is pleasing to cats. It was made to mimic the feel of the sand in North Africa, where house cats’ ancestors lived. Cleaning Features The clay in this litter is selected and processed to maximize its clumping ability and for its natural odor-absorbing properties. It quickly swells and hardens in response to moisture, creating solid clumps with the odor trapped inside. This litter won’t fall apart when you scoop it. And, equally as important, it won’t stick to the walls of the litter box the same way other clay litters do. Subscription Boxie products are available as one-time purchases as well as through subscription orders. If you choose the latter option, you’ll receive 5% off your order. You can choose to have your auto-delivery ship every 4, 6, or 8 weeks. The subscription offering ensures you never run out of cat litter. And unlike getting your litter at the grocery store, this litter is delivered straight to your door so you can avoid the heavy lifting. Of course, you can skip or cancel your subscription at any time. In Summary Pros Highly attractive to cats Forms solid clumps Fair odor control without fragrance 99% dust-free Convenient subscription option Cons Not a budget buy Not low-tracking Cats may play in the litter box Key Features Check Price on Boxiecat Attracts Cats with Ease This cat litter is so “attractive” to cats that my kitty was trying to crawl into the bag the moment I opened it. Clearly, the added odor attractant is very effective at gaining a cat’s attention. The unique UV glowing crystals continue to entice until cats just can’t help but jump in. The smooth, comfortable feel of the rounded clay pieces continues the seduction to ensure your cat won’t want to use the bathroom anywhere else. Whether your cat struggles to find the cat box or just doesn’t use it frequently enough, this litter is bound to help. Low-Dust, High-Clump The premium ctter boxes. Delivered Straight to Your Door With Boxie’s subscription feature, you can get this cat litter along with all of Boxie’s other great products delivered straight to your door. This means no more worrying about running out and no more heaving heavy boxes of litter around the store. Plus, the subscription option comes with a 5% discount on every order. Is Boxie Litter a Good Value? Boxie’s Glo litter costs quite a bit more than most grocery-store brand cat litter. But it also costs much less than other premium subscription cat litter options. Considering the many added features of this litter and the natural ingredients, I believe it’s a good value. Check Price on Boxiecat Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) What does this litter look like to cats? Since cats can see well into the UV spectrum, the clear crystals in this litter will appear whitish blue to them. More importantly, these crystals will glow with a subtle fluorescence. Cats are attracted to this phenomenon because they use UV light to track prey. Does it have a fragrance? No, this cat litter is not scented in a way humans can smell. It does include an added odor attractant that cats can detect but this is not used to mask urine or fecal odors. Can this litter be used in automatic litter boxes? Yes, the small grain size and clumping prowess of this litter make it a great choice for automatic litter boxes. Our Experience With Boxie’s Glo Natural Attractions Cat Litter I’m lucky that my one-year-old cat, Makoa, has never had issues using the litter box. Still, I have been on the hunt for a better litter. I recently switched to an automatic litter box and my litter just wasn’t cutting it in the odor-control department. Part of the issue is that the waste bin for the spent litter is not sealed so the odors permeate quickly even though it is made to hold up to 14 days of litter. The other issue is that my litter doesn’t clump solidly, which leaves a lot of small pieces of urine-soaked litter in the pan between cleanings. I thought Boxie’s Glo Natural Attractions Clumping Clay Litter might be the solution I needed. Plus I hoped glowing litter might be a fun way to stimulate Makoa, who is always up for a new experience. The moment I cut open the bag, Makoa was very interested. In fact, he immediately stuck his head in the hole and laid on the bag like it was his new favorite place in the world. Once I got him out of the way, I was able to get the Glo litter into the litter box and start the test. Makoa was so taken by this litter that he hopped into the box immediately and did his business. It was so fast, in fact, that I didn’t even get a picture of it for this review! It was clear he was giving this litter two paws up. From my end, I have been very pleased with its clumping abilities. The pieces that go into the waste bin are solid and I haven’t noticed many smaller chunks floating around in the clean litter after the box cleans itself. Both of these factors have also helped a lot with the odor issues I was having with my old litter. With Glo, I have been able to go back to cleaning the waste bin once a week without having excessive odor issues. I also really like that this is a low-dust formula. It keeps the surfaces and air around the litter box much cleaner. After using this litter for over a week, I don’t have too much to complain about. The small pieces of clay tend to track a bit more than the low-tracking clay litter I was using before. This means a bit more cleanup around the litter box throughout the week. But the fact that it’s nearly dust-free is a worthy tradeoff. While the general mess created by the litter isn’t too bad, Makoa will now occasionally play in his litter box. As you can imagine, this creates quite a massive mess. He hasn’t done this since he was a kitten, so I have to assume it’s that attractive UV glow that gets him so amped up. This litter is also a bit pricey compared to the bargain brand I was using before. I’m not saying it isn’t worth it, though, given how well it clumps and holds odor. I can see it being especially worth the price for cats with litter box issues and related health problems. Overall, I have been very pleased with this litter and am excited to try more of the litter options Boxie has to offer. Check Price on Boxiecat Conclusion If your cat struggles to maintain healthy litter box habits (or to use the litter box at all), I highly recommend checking out Boxie’s Glo Natural Attractions Clumping Clay Litter. This unique litter uses natural odor attractants, a comfortable, natural feel, and specialty UV glowing crystals to help entice cats to use the litter box consistently and often. My cat loves this litter and I love how well it clumps and tackles odors using only natural ingredients. Plus, this product and all of Boxie’s litters are available through a subscription delivery plan that will save you time, money, and hassle. The post Boxie Glo Natural Attractions Clumping Clay Cat Litter Review 2024: Our Expert’s Opinion appeared first on PangoVet.

Volvo has declared that it has abandoned plans to sell only electric cars by the end of the decade. The Swedish auto manufacturer is the latest carmaker to walk back ambitious electric vehicle plans. Volvo was one of the first automakers to promise an electric-only lineup. However, Volvo has scrapped its plan to sell only electric vehicles – just three years after it pledged it would "become a fully electric car company by 2030."'It is clear that the transition to electrification will not be linear, and customers and markets are moving at different speeds of adoption.'Volvo said the company needed to "adjust its electrification ambitions due to changing market conditions and customer demands.""Going forward, Volvo Cars aims for 90 to 100 percent of its global sales volume by 2030 to consist of electrified cars, meaning a mix of both fully electric and plug-in hybrid models – in essence, all cars with a cord," the car company stated in a press release shared on Wednesday. Volvo noted, "This replaces the company’s previous ambition for its lineup to be fully electric by 2030."“We are resolute in our belief that our future is electric,” said Jim Rowan, CEO of Volvo Cars. “An electric car provides a superior driving experience and increases possibilities for using advanced technologies that improve the overall customer experience."Rowan admitted, "However, it is clear that the transition to electrification will not be linear, and customers and markets are moving at different speeds of adoption. We are pragmatic and flexible, while retaining an industry-leading position on electrification and sustainability.”Volvo blamed "slower than expected rollout of charging infrastructure, withdrawal of government incentives in some markets and additional uncertainties created by recent tariffs on EVs in various markets" for the lower demand for electric vehicles. Volvo Cars proclaimed there is a "need for stronger and more stable government policies to support the transition to electrification."The car company said it expects to feature 50% to 60% of its lineup as electrified vehicles by 2025. Volvo said the share of fully electric cars in its lineup stood at 26% during the second quarter of 2024, adding that this is the highest level among its premium peers. The car company stated that EVs and hybrid vehicles account for 48% of its lineup. Volvo is owned by the Chinese car company Geely. Volvo and Geely also own the Polestar EV brand.Last week, Bloomberg reported that Polestar had suffered $242.3 million in operating losses for the second quarter. Polestar admitted that revenue had dropped 17% to $574.9 million due to “lower global volumes and higher discounts.”Bloomberg reported, "Once a vanguard of the electric-car movement, Polestar is grappling with high costs and increasing competition from new players, including from China. At the same time, consumer demand for EVs is waning amid high inflation and the end of subsidies in key markets, forcing some carmakers to offer discounts."Volvo's reversal of ambitious goals of electric vehicles comes at a time when other automakers have dialed back their commitments to EVs. As Blaze News previously reported last month, Ford Motor Company announced measures to scale back multiple EV plans. Ford killed plans to manufacture a large, three-row electric SUV. The American auto manufacturer also developed a new plan to focus on smaller, cheaper EVs as the future, while hybrid technology will be utilized for powering larger vehicles. Ford will also reduce future capital expenditure plans on pure EVs from 40% to 30%. Ford's EV division is reportedly on pace to lose as much as $5.5 billion this year.Three years ago, Mercedes-Benz proclaimed it would feature an all-electric car lineup in 2030 "where market conditions allow." However, in February, Mercedes backpedaled and indicated it would continue to manufacture internal combustion engine cars and hybrids well past 2030."Spurred on by weaker than expected demand for EVs, this about-face was the most recent indication that the global car industry is growing increasingly pessimistic about an all-electric future," according to Forbes. Reuters reported in June that General Motors downgraded its 2024 EV production forecast from 300,000 units to 250,000. Porsche watered down its plans to become an all-electric car company in July. "The transition to electric cars is taking longer than we thought five years ago," Porsche said in a statement. "Our product strategy is set up such that we could deliver over 80% of our vehicles as all electric in 2030 – dependent on customer demand and the development of electromobility."According to Edmunds sales data, new car sales of electric vehicles in the U.S. were only 6.8% in May 2024.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

First son Hunter Biden tried to change his plea to no contest in the tax evasion charges against him, but the judge on the case deferred ruling on the matter.Jury selection for the case was scheduled to begin on Thursday morning at a federal courthouse in Los Angeles. Biden, 54, had previously pled not guilty to three felony charges and six misdemeanor charges related to tax evasion.'A plea such as this should not be used to obfuscate the truth.'However, once the hearing began, his attorneys suddenly announced that Biden intended to change his plea to an Alford plea. An Alford plea is technically a guilty plea in which defendants admit that prosecutors could likely secure a conviction without also having to admit that the allegations against them are true.Defense attorney Abbe Lowell acknowledged on Thursday that the evidence against Biden is "overwhelming" and claimed that in an effort to bring the case to a quick resolution, Biden has offered to change his plea.Prosecutors, caught off guard by the sudden turn of events, balked at the offer of an Alford plea. "Hunter Biden is not innocent. Hunter Biden is guilty," prosecutor Leo Wise told the court. "He is not entitled to plead guilty on special terms that apply only to him."District Judge Mark Scarsi, appointed by Donald Trump, then declared a short recess, asking all parties to return later that morning.After court reconvened, Wise reiterated that "the U.S. opposes an Alford plea" in Biden's case. Lowell argued that "the court is required to accept the plea" and that all the details "can be resolved today," NBC News reported.Judge Scarsi seemed doubtful. "I haven’t seen a case that tells me I have to accept an Alford plea," he stated.Scarsi ultimately decided to delay his decision on the matter, asking attorneys for both sides to file briefs to make their case."The public justifiably expects the court to seek truth in transparent proceeding," he said during the hearing, per CNN. "A plea such as this should not be used to obfuscate the truth."According to the DOJ, Hunter Biden willfully neglected to pay at least $1.4 million in federal taxes between 2016 and 2019, using the money to support his "extravagant lifestyle" instead of "paying his tax bills." He also allegedly filed false returns in 2018.If convicted, he could face up to 17 years behind bars.In June, a federal jury in Delaware found Hunter Biden guilty of three gun-related charges. He has yet to be sentenced in that case but faces up to 25 years. As it was his first official criminal offense, he is unlikely to receive the maximum penalty.President Joe Biden has repeatedly insisted he will not pardon his son in either the gun- or the tax-related case. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reiterated on Thursday that the president will not pardon Hunter. She declined to comment on Hunter Biden's attempted plea change, the AP reported.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Joe Biden has presided over the deterioration of the American strategic position across the globe.

The Nation Aims for Worst Take of the Year Complaining About Democrats Embracing 'Dark Side' of Football

BASED: John Fetterman BLASTS Meta Oversight Board for Saying Anti-Israel Slogan Isn't Hate Speech

WATCH: 'Should've Named It What It Was!' Biden Admits Inflation Reduction Act Was Green New Deal SCAM