'Her nomination may be in jeopardy'

'China is clearly preparing to launch a non-kinetic war against the U.S. military.'

'earn back the confidence of the American public'

'I’m going to have a show of hands'

Across major American cities, old unused rail depots and train stations are seeing second lives as hotels. Along with preserving relics of America’s past, these structures are often made of stone or brick and were built with the intention of welcoming tens of thousands of people per day, making them strong and long-lasting as well […] The post Unused Train Stations Across US Are Being Revitalized into Hotels, Restaurants and Even Museums appeared first on Good News Network.

The post Cats and Video Chats: Why Doesn’t Clutch React to the Computer? by Dr. Karyn Kanowski BVSc MRCVS (Veterinarian) appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com. Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and meet my five hilarious cats: Clutch, Cyril, Alex, Zelda, and Zazzles. Let’s face it, video calls were one of the best technological advancements of the last century. Working from home has taken on a whole new look, and for people like me who live half a world away from friends and family, it has allowed us to be right there in the room, even when you’re on the other side of the planet. I try to get a video call in with my parents once a week, although it can get a little tricky with the time difference. My schedule isn’t too bad, but as my Dad likes to say, “retirement is a full-time job.” Apart from my Dad’s sharp wit, one thing I can always rely on during our weekly video chats is that Mum will try to talk to the cats. Usually, it’s Clutch, because he’s always hanging around downstairs with the dogs. Despite the fact that Clutch has never – not once in 10 years – given the slightest reaction to her waving, calling his name, and insistent calls of “puss, puss, puss,” she is completely undeterred. And in case you’re thinking that he might have some sort of personal vendetta against my mother, he is equally rude to anyone who tries to get his attention through the computer screen. Screen Blind? Transfixed Clutch’s unwavering ignorance of this particular mode of communication got me wondering – is he somehow blind and deaf to digital images and sounds? Obviously, I had some experimenting to do. Naturally, I am completely opposed to testing on animals, but in this case, exposing my cat to a range of sights and sounds on the laptop and television screen seems pretty harmless! Side by side, Clutch and Cyril both came running when called. However, when I played a recording of me calling them, I got nothing. Nada. But then I play one of those wildlife videos on YouTube that are designed to entertain cats  – have you seen them? Chirping birds flying and squirrels and chipmunks darting about the place – and I have clear evidence that my felines can both see and hear things on a screen. Almost As Good As the Real Thing Spartacus also enjoyed a spot of tennis I once worked with another vet who had adopted a lovely cat she named Spartacus, who had been brought into our practice with horrible burns all over his back. After weeks of nursing, Sparta made a full recovery with just a few scars and became a most loving and devoted indoor kitty. He also loved nature documentaries. The fast-moving images really grabbed his attention, and no matter where he was in the apartment, when he heard the opening theme music for David Attenborough’s Blue Planet, he would come running and perch himself in front of the TV. He would occasionally paw or jump at the fish as they darted across the screen, but for the most part, he just sat, transfixed, for the whole hour. Clearly it ignited some of his hunting instincts, but it also seemed like he simply enjoyed watching the images without feeling the need to interact with them. He also enjoyed a spot of tennis! Maybe This Time Clutch could not be less interested in video me It’s clear that cats – including Clutch – can see, hear, and understand digital images to some extent. Their behavior suggests that they aren’t under the impression that there are actually birds or fish inside the television, but are simply enjoying watching and playing with the fast-moving images on the screen, much like they enjoy chasing a laser pointer. Perhaps it is this understanding that leads Clutch to ignore the people in the computer – because he knows they’re not real. Despite this, I know that Mum will still call out to Clutch at our next video catch-up. Who knows, maybe this time he’ll react! Do any of your cats like to watch TV? Or perhaps you have a feline that is happy to interact with friends online. Let me know in the comments below. This article is a part of Dr. Karyn's series with her five hilarious cats. Read her previous article: How Can I Make My Cat Like Me? Lessons From Zelda & Clutch The post Cats and Video Chats: Why Doesn’t Clutch React to the Computer? by Dr. Karyn Kanowski BVSc MRCVS (Veterinarian) appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

Episode 10 of the Retro Resurgence features two special guests, friends of the TRN Community Karen Flieger (@retrodolls77) and Chris Bailey (@beatles_toybox). The gang discuss all the major movies celebrating milestone anniversaries in 2025, including CONTINUE READING... The post The Retro Resurgence Podcast – Episode 10 | The Funko Pops We Need appeared first on The Retro Network.

Most of us grew up in the glory days of catalogs. While we mainly remember the Sears Wish Books at Christmas, there were numerous other catalogs as well. The thing they all had in common CONTINUE READING... The post The 1981 Mattel Electronics Catalog appeared first on The Retro Network.

Those in the Army and other corps know that using standards is a good choice, and used extensively for good reasons. If you already have a diesel engine in your tractor and rely on this for most of your homestead chores, a wise choice is to use diesel as the main fuel, for instance. It can be expensive, but with reasonable financial management (which you will need anyway in an economic storm), you could create an emergency fund for “engine emergencies” with the fuel savings. Diesel mechanics can be relatively simple, but it is not as cheap as gasoline engines. However, reliability is a plus that could be priceless in the long run. Like in situations where you have to cross a flooded road with 1600 pounds of products or gear on your pickup, water covering the lower half of your engine, and you make it to the other side without hesitation. This is doable with planning and wise investment. Let´s see another example: buying 100 gallons when the price is low, and designating a fixed amount per week or month to an account only for fuel is something I would do if my business depended on that. Trying to find a local biodiesel supplier is another means to improve self-reliance, also, if you are a farmer. But it is an issue to discuss in another article. Summarizing, there is a good reason why practically all industries use standards. The seamless operation of machinery, vehicles, and farm equipment is reliant on the availability of fuels, lubricants, and parts. Establishing standards and buying in bulk can significantly reduce operating costs, optimize your maintenance processes, and extend the lifespan of the equipment. In the past I witnessed cooperatives working with good savings. Advantages of Standardization There are plenty of advantages if you use only one fuel, one hydraulic (transmission/gearbox), and engine oil. Beginning with the savings in transport. Let´s elaborate. Cost Reduction: By standardizing fuels and lubricants, you can negotiate better prices from suppliers due to increased purchasing volume. If your homestead is far away, you would reduce costs by getting a few 4-gallon buckets of, say engine oil, that will work on your tractor, generator, ATV, and pickup. The mere transport expense in some cases can justify the money. Not to mention that it´s much cheaper in the long run. For example, check out this link with 16 filters, resulting in each filter costing 3.25$. With the 4-pack, prices go up to 5$ per unit. Or you could see the price of this 2.5-gallon pack at roughly 60$ versus the 5-gallon pail, saving almost 20$ if both machines use the same engine oil. Get another pail for your ATV, store it wisely and it should last for 2 more oil changes. Another 20$ saved. Then, 40$ saved somewhere else, and so on. Reduced storage needs By using a single fuel type, you minimize the need to store and manage multiple fuels, reducing storage space and the risk of spills or contamination. One tank for all the fuel you need, instead of two. Same with the oil. And you will avoid the temptation to use one that could be available, but not exactly within specs of the machinery you intend to service. Seen it happening. Increasing operation time Imagine your alternator fails exactly when you need to get your truck to town and don´t have another car available. But you have taken your precautions, and you have a trusty generator that fits right in place with the same brand and specifications. Just wrench 20-30 minutes (if you are like me) and you´re ready to hit the road. You may want to install the same alternator if you have a second car, meaning that when you need to rebuild one, getting the parts by half a dozen you could get good deals. Use a spreadsheet to keep track of the maintenance by mileage or time, and it will be almost automatic. These investments usually pay back after a couple of years, but the price of having them at hand when you need them the most is incalculable. Mind you, we still rebuild those parts in some countries, whether doing the work ourselves or getting the parts and taking everything to a shade tree guy to do it for a small fee)—mostly starters and alternators. Much cheaper than getting a new part, and they last the same time or twice the new cheap overseas-built junk. Personally, when I have the coin, I get the brand-new, OEM stuff and stash the part I take out of the car. The roads I usually transit are usually desert, hot, and lonely. I can´t afford any failure that leaves me stranded. A couple of hours under a scorching sun and you´ll run through a couple of liters of water. Reliability means a lot here. Supplier Selection We all know how networking is important in crisis or SHTF scenarios. Having reliable suppliers who can consistently provide the products you need to keep the machines oiled has a remarkable added value. Imagine you produce biodiesel in your homestead and trade for the engine and gearbox oils you need, face-to-face, only a couple times per year. Not even cash changing hands. Mutual agreement, off-the-books. This is the sort of business that will keep you sleeping at night, trust me. Testing  When the batch is a large one, like a 200-liter barrel or so, the quality is usually good. You could always verify the quality with one of these testers. Test it within reasonable intervals (get advice from the supplier), especially before using it. This will alert any potential contamination or degradation. I bought in advance 5 gallons for oil changes for my brand new car back in 2009 (I had a small business running, bringing cheese from my hometown to the East), and they lasted me for almost 2 years, with a 1000 km (550 miles) round trip every month. Even better if you can make the oil filters a match, but that is more complicated. However, if you get the same engine on your pickup that in your generator, would be a blast. Getting the same parts to rebuild them and at the same time cutting a good deal with the mechanic in a 2×1 offer sounds like money savings. Weaponry I am sure this area is already pretty well covered somewhere, but I had to mention it at least. This is a topic that could fill a book, and sadly one where I have not too much knowledge. Only barely enough to not shoot myself on a foot. I´d rather leave it to the pros. Voltage and current Standardizing on a single voltage and current for the electrical system (e.g., 12V DC) simplifies wiring, reduces the risk of electrical faults, and allows for easier integration of new components. Mind you, 24V is highly efficient for solar inverters. I have been running some calculations and this will very likely be my choice for the battery rack. The efficiency of the conversion is 85-90% which is not bad at all. Even standardizing the bulbs for lighting could save you some money. I´d like to have more bulbs with a good distribution than a few high-powered bulbs here and there that will be expensive to replace. Bulbs are articles that can be found, usually, at good prices in bulk. Plumbing Although this can be tricky, or plainly impossible, it´s good to give it a try. It´s impractical to have a different spare for every faucet at home. You have it much easier up there, as standardization in households goes a long way back. We have manufacturers from different countries, using all sort of odd diameters and threads and compatibility was an issue until not too long ago. With the influx of Far East cheap products things are not much better: quality is an issue. I know people that has installed three different toilets and they have to get different spares. Storage containers and methods Believe it or not, standardizing common storage containers can improve food storage efficiency and time at the moment of an evacuation. You can get good deals on stackable containers. You don´t need new boxes. They´re going to be moved around, and surely will take a beating. Measuring the cargo area of our vehicles is a good idea before getting our containers, so we can pre-plan everything accordingly. Remember involving your kids. For instance, a group could use boxes like these for dry foods and cookware , or these colors for first aid/medical kits. Using these boxes, for example, with a different color for each family/group you could stack them up and the owners never lose track of where their gear is if they have to use another vehicle for some reason. Use your creativity! Gear It was almost impossible to write this type of article without quoting the importance of having standard gear on your group so everybody can exchange gear with everyone else. These guys cover the topic in an interesting conversation. Thanks for understanding that there is much more to this idea than what I have compiled here. My own application back in the day of this concept was getting one of the most common cars we had in the country (a used one with 7 years old, but still). This model was sold by the thousands, as an affordable family car with bank financing programs, and as a taxi. My idea was to get another car that shared the exact same gearbox; A/T TH 125, but had the opportunity to get the SUV, larger, more powerful and newer but with a different motor and tranny. Anyways, I made sure that both cars could use the same engine oil, brake fluid, and tranny oil. As a bonus, I found this video quite useful. Thought you may want to give it a try. Making Biodiesel on a farm Thanks for your reading, and I expect you to share your thoughts and experiences with standardization in the comments. Truly appreciated to those who kindly have sent many needed sponsoring fees. Be safe, and stay tuned! J. What about you? Are you already doing this? If not, is it something you would consider doing with your own preparedness strategy? Do you have more examples to add? Let’s talk about it in the comments section.​ About Jose Jose is an upper middle class professional. He is a former worker of the oil state company with a Bachelor’s degree from one of the best national Universities. He has an old but in good shape SUV, a good 150 square meters house in a nice neighborhood, in a small but (formerly) prosperous city with two middle size malls. Jose is a prepper and shares his eyewitness accounts and survival stories from the collapse of his beloved Venezuela. Jose and his younger kid are currently back in Venezuela, after the intention of setting up a new life in another country didn’t  go well. The SARSCOV2 re-shaped the labor market and South American economy so he decided to give it a try to homestead in the mountains, and make a living as best as possible. But this time in his own land, and surrounded by family, friends and acquaintances, with all the gear and equipment collected, as the initial plan was.  Follow Jose on YouTube and gain access to his exclusive content on Patreon. Donations: paypal.me/JoseM151 The post Establishing Standards for Prepping appeared first on The Organic Prepper.

In this first two weeks of the Trump new tenure, there’s just been a flurry of news and disinformation. We’ve heard about all of these pardons, all of these yanking of security clearances, and now most recently, the end of security details for former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, former National Security Advisor John Bolton, and former Director of the [National] Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Anthony Fauci. And let’s cut through all of the hysteria and look at a few constant themes in all of these cases. Donald Trump said, when he was pressed about this, aren’t you worried that you may be culpable if any of them are harmed, since, supposedly, right-wingers don’t like Fauci and the Iranians are mad at Bolton and Pompeo? And he said, “Do we give security details forever?” And then he pointed out in the case of John Bolton and Anthony Fauci that they’re quite wealthy people and they made a lot of wealth while they were in office. Anthony Fauci and his wife were probably the highest-paid couple in the federal workforce, perhaps nearing a million dollars in annual compensation. John Bolton had his own political action committee that traditionally raised $7 million a year. And his blockbuster bestseller, a tell-all book, damning the person who hired him, made him a lot of money. It’s not true of Mike Pompeo. He did not cash in. There’s another thing to remember. Donald Trump will do more to keep Pompeo and Bolton safe by confronting Iran. And he already has told Iran that they are going to be held responsible, not just for threatening Bolton’s life or Pompeo’s, but his life. And remember, the recent interview with the president of Iran, what did he say? He said, “I have no intention of starting a war. I have no intention of attacking Israel. I have no intention of assassinating a U.S. official.” Why that change in attitude? It’s because Donald Trump has given them an ultimatum and that will ensure the safety of, not only, Bolton and Pompeo, but Trump himself. And then there’s the other question; Donald Trump was almost shot twice with, supposedly, the most impressive security detail in the world. So, nobody can be completely protected. And so, let me get back to another point—in the case of Anthony Fauci, he has his own resources, as I said, to protect himself. His detail was scheduled to run out anyway at the end of his tenure. It was inaugurated by Joe Biden and paid for within the budget of Health and Human Services and the NIH. So, it wasn’t Donald Trump that came in and said to Anthony Fauci, “I’m going to expose you to danger.” All of us in this public sphere, every pundit, every op-ed writer, college prep—all of us have received threats, existential threats. And I can attest that I have. And so, it’s part of the game when you get into the political arena. There’s one other factor: Mike Pompeo, I think, is in a different category of John Bolton and Anthony Fauci. He had a longer tenure as a political appointee than Bolton did. He was very loyal to the president. But more importantly, he doesn’t have the individual means—the profit-making, during or after his tenure, that puts him in a financially secure position, as Fauci and Bolton. Second, because his tenure was much longer and because he was much more high profile in opposing the Iran deal and being vocal about [Qasem] Soleimani, he is in some jeopardy, I think, to a greater degree than either Fauci or Bolton. And so, that’s something that we might want to re-examine, depending on the attitude of the Iranians. But again, the best way to protect Bolton and Pompeo is to preemptively tell Iran that if anybody—Donald Trump, those two—anybody is in danger of an Iranian attack, the consequences will be existential for Iran. This all takes place in sort of a hysteria that Donald Trump is calling people to account in the Biden administration. And it’s part and parcel of yanking the security clearances of 51 “intelligence authorities,” the pardons of the Biden family. My only advice to all of us is just take a deep breath. And when you hear these hysterical news accounts, understand that they have a political motivation behind them. The post Death Threats Come With the Job of a Public Figure appeared first on The Daily Signal.