'These agencies are built to attack parents not protect children'

In 1970, British mathematician John Horton Conway created a zero-player videogame, dubbed "Conway's Game of Life".The game takes place on a grid of squares, and the only input a user can have is setting the initial state, making it a far cry from Far Cry. The user sets the starting state of the grid – deciding which spaces are occupied and which are unoccupied – and then the game follows a few simple rules to determine the evolution of the grid. That sounds pretty dull, but the results are anything but. The rules, decided by Conway, are as follows: For a space that is occupied, each cell with one occupied neighbor or no neighbors dies, as if by solitude. Each occupied space with four or more neighbors also dies, as if by overpopulation. If an occupied cell has two or three neighbors, it will survive to the next step (i.e. it will remain occupied as the whole grid moves forward one step).A space that is unoccupied, meanwhile, will only become populated only when it has three occupied spaces beside it.     So why is this fun and/or interesting? Following these simple rules, complexity arises. Patterns and oscillators emerged pretty quickly and were spotted by the gamers who played it. Repeating patterns soon came about too, with more complex interactions between the grid squares, including some patterns that only emerge and stabilize after many generations. For example, the "acorn" pattern of 7 occupied squares produces 13 gliders and only stabilizes after 5,206 generations.    Gliders are the smallest of the moving structures that emerge in the game of life, but there are other larger "spaceships" that appear within the chaos (play with one here). These ships self-replicate and move across the grid, while other patterns can produce "guns" (see one here), which create and send more gliders on their path.   There are also structures known as "eaters", which gobble up spaceships should they stray too close.   Using the game, with its simple rules, it is possible to create logic gates, allowing you to do calculations.  In fact, the game is "Turing complete", meaning that with the right starting pattern, it is possible to do any calculation that is possible on a traditional computer. Here, for instance, is Conway's game of life simulated by a computer within Conway's game of life. The main takeaway from the game is not about life being possible in a 2D universe (although some physicists think that it is) but that complex patterns and behavior can emerge from very simple rules. That, and try not to get too close to The Eater.

Two species of giant hummingbirds inhabit the Andes, rather than just one as previously assumed, a new study has revealed. The birds are distinguished by only tiny differences in their bodies – but their lifestyles could hardly be less alike, with one undertaking epic migrations while the other stays at high altitudes year-round.Humanity’s poor understanding of South American wildlife was revealed recently with the announcement of a new species of giant anaconda, the largest and heaviest snake in the world. That discovery revealed substantial genetic differences between green anacondas from different parts of the Amazon, such that they deserve classification as two separate species.It’s easier to understand how a bird weighing 17-31 grams (0.6-1.1 ounces) could fly under our radar for so long than a 6-meter snake. Nevertheless, the scientific description of the largest hummingbird species is another example of how badly under-resourced the continent’s taxonomy is.“These are amazing birds,” lead study author Cornell University’s Dr Jessie Williamson said in a statement. “They’re about eight times the size of a Ruby-throated Hummingbird. We knew that some Giant Hummingbirds migrated, but until we sequenced genomes from the two populations, we had never realized just how different they are.” The observation that some hummingbirds leave the coast after their breeding season goes back at least as far as Darwin, who speculated they might travel to the Atacama Desert.The researchers discovered that northern giant hummingbirds live in the high Andes throughout the year, but a southern population breeds at the coast, spending their winters high in the mountains. Their journey is short compared to species that fly from the Arctic to the Antarctic and back each year, but it’s extraordinary in terms of altitude, from sea level to 4,100 meters (14,000 feet) up.“They are as different from each other as chimpanzees are from bonobos,” said Dr Chris Witt of the University of New Mexico. “The two species do overlap on their high elevation wintering grounds. It’s mind-boggling that until now nobody figured out the Giant Hummingbird mystery, yet these two species have been separate for millions of years.”Even with local assistance, the team did not anticipate finding a new species, so their work was not designed to test the relationship. Instead, they were seeking to find out where the migratory birds went in winter. After using satellite trackers to follow eight birds’ movements thousands of kilometers north to Peru, the team realized something special was going on. The 8,300-kilometer (5,200-mile) round-trip is quite likely the longest hummingbird migration in the world.It's a long way to the top if you're a small bird, and when the top has so little oxygen you need to stop to pump up your blood.Image Credit: Jessie WilliamsonUnderstandably, birds that have seen the ocean, and tasted the exotic nectar to be found there, have little interest in breeding with those that never leave home. Nevertheless, sometimes love (or lust) will find a way – one hybrid has been found. The authors are not sure whether all giant hummingbirds once migrated and some got too lazy, or if it’s the great journey that is the innovation that caused the species split.The species name, Patagona gigas, was once thought to describe both, but was described using a migratory bird, so these get to keep the name. The team are calling the homebodies Patagona chaski, from the Quechua word for messenger.The common names are simpler, with the migrators to be known as Southern Giant Hummingbirds, and their stay-at-home counterparts Northern Giant Hummingbirds.The fact this study took 15 years helps explain why no one had recognized the difference before. “Capturing Giant Hummingbirds is very challenging,” study author Emil Bautista of the Centro de Ornitología y Biodiversidad, Peru, said. “They watch everything and they know their territories well. We had to be strategic in choosing sites for our nets. If Giant Hummingbirds see something unusual, they won’t visit that spot. They are more observant than other birds.” It took an average of 146 hours with nets to catch a single bird.Once caught, the birds needed to be tracked. So “miniature backpacks” light enough not to affect the hummingbird’s capacity to fly were attached to the birds. More innovatively, Williamson found a way to make it wearable without interfering with the hummingbirds’ distinctive hovering flight while drinking nectar. “It took a lot of trial and error to come up with a suitable harness design,” Williamson said in another statement. “Hummingbirds are challenging to work with because they are lightweight with long wings and short legs. They’re nature’s tiny acrobats.”A Southern Giant Hummingbird being fitted with a geolocator backpack in Valparaíso Region, ChileImage Credit: Chris WittNeither species is currently endangered, despite migratory birds often being particularly vulnerable. The team is keen to explore the region where the two’s habitats overlap to see how they interact. Williamson also wants to understand how they change altitude so rapidly. “They’re like miniature mountain climbers. How do they change their physiology to facilitate these movements?” she said. One of the team’s discoveries was that the birds pause on their upward migration to acclimatize, with their hemoglobin levels surging.The findings are published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 

Readers of Blaze News no doubt recall the jaw-dropping moment a few months back when Toronto police told residents to leave their car keys at their front doors for thieves to take in order to lessen the risk of crooks physically attacking them in their homes to acquire their keys. Of course, the backlash was brutal for what smacked of total surrender. But in many ways the suggestion summed up the striking degree to which some police have thrown up their hands in numerous instances, in numerous places, bowing down as crime spikes around them. "We ain't f***in' around!" one militant reportedly was heard yelling at officers while another declared, "I'll knock you the f*** out, bitch!" To be clear, it can be convincingly argued that police and their departments may not be at fault for this disturbing trend. Indeed, progressive politicians, woke judges, and soft-on-crime district attorneys have been hell-bent on dismissing criminal charges, siding with crooks, punishing cops, and literally defunding police — all of which demonstrates to lawless types that laws against crime often don't mean much these days. In the face of such lack of support — and particularly what leftists learned they could get away with after George Floyd and 2020's dubiously named "Summer of Love" — who can blame cops for thinking twice before taking action, or even out-and-out retreating? Here are 10 times police did just that:Portland police — in riot gear, no less — caught on video running away from mob trying to prevent home foreclosureVideo caught the moments when a violent leftist mob managed to chase away Portland police in December 2020 in order to prevent a home foreclosure. Members of the mob kicked and threw rocks at retreating police vehicles and ran up on cops and appeared to try to steal their equipment while taunting and threatening them; they ended up literally chasing officers down a street. "We ain't f***in' around!" one militant reportedly was heard yelling at officers while another declared, "I'll knock you the f*** out, bitch!"Seattle police dashcam video shows cop car backing away from street takeover mob — even after thugs brazenly hit vehicle with objectsSeattle police dashcam video captured the scene after midnight in July 2023 as cops responded to a street takeover. The crowd at the intersection shows no signs of fear as the police vehicle approaches — in fact, thugs in the crowd taunt police in the vehicle, which begins to back up. That only emboldens the mob, as its members dump liquid on the police vehicle, climb on its hood, and throw objects at it. Hours later, police said officers heard gunfire at the same intersection and found two shooting victims. Street takeovers have become serious problems in many communities over the last several years; they are planned in advance and involve numerous cars and pedestrians blocking traffic and doing donuts in the middle of intersections.Video shows Austin police vehicle backing away from advancing mob amid street takeover — (@) The incident in question took place in February 2023, as the police department stated it had responded to four street takeovers on a single night, KXAN-TV reported, adding that the lawlessness included a crowd throwing rocks and bottles and pointing lasers at officers. In the above video, what appears to be a firecracker exploded very close to the police vehicle as it was backing up from the emboldened mob. The station said another video shows a crowd pushing a police vehicle around, and police said one officer was injured and “several police cars” were damaged. Riley Gaines said a leftist mob assaulted her at a speaking event and forced her — as well as campus cops who were with her — into a safe room for over three hours — (@) It's unnerving when leftist mobs are so emboldened, so convinced that they can get away with physical attacks that they carry them out right in front of police. In April 2023 Gaines said a pro-transgender mob attacked her amid her speech at San Francisco State University. Yes, police helped protect her — but who was in control? Gaines reportedly ended up barricaded in a room with police for over three hours, during which time LGBT activists allegedly demanded money for her safe passage off campus. No arrests were made. A few months ago, campus police abandoned their investigation.Antifa militants have their way with Portland cops, throwing snowballs at the retreating officers' backs before they finally take cover in bureau — (@) Video from February 2021 shows a crowd of Antifa militants outnumbering a pair of Portland police officers who decide not to stick around as the two cops quickly head down a sidewalk as the militants repeatedly holler "Quit your jobs!" and actually throw snowballs and kick snow at the officers. Soon the officers arrive at the city of Portland Police Bureau, where a door opens for them, the cops head inside, and Antifa celebrates getting away with it.Leftist militant sucker-punches videographer in head outside drag queen story hour; sheriff's deputy standing just feet away does nothing — (@) This incident took place in April 2023 outside the West Hollywood Library, where the drag queen story hour was taking place. In a clip posted to Twitter by Los Angeles reporter Samuel Braslow, a videographer dressed in purple and blue repeatedly begs an L.A. sheriff's deputy standing next to him for protection from a growing number of leftists moving toward him in a menacing fashion. When the deputy begins walking away, the videographer asks him, "Why are you leaving me, sir?" After the sucker-punch, the deputy raises a finger at the attacker and says rather half-heartedly, "Stop fighting, sir." Not only did that deputy appear to witness the physical attack, but at least three other deputies standing farther away did as well — and none of them did a thing about it.Women caught on video twerking on hood of Chicago police vehicle; cops seem handcuffed by raucous scene — (@) Chicago police in June 2021 said they were investigating a viral video showing a trio of women twerking on top of a department SUV. No, it wasn't a violent crime — but the brazenness of the display while a crowd gathered around the vehicle and police in the clip didn't dare do anything about it underscores the degree to which people are convinced they'll get a free pass for such actions these days. Indeed, a Chicago Sun-Times columnist called out police in the vehicle for encouraging "mayhem" in the streets.Late-night revelers caught on video jumping atop police car as officer sits inside it, leaving officials and residents disgustedThe women caught on video twerking on the hood of a Chicago police vehicle in the above item may have been inspired by a similar incident that took place in St. Louis about a week beforehand. A citywide call for an officer in need of aid reportedly was issued while a mob danced, kicked, and stomped on top of the officer's vehicle.Pittsburgh cops no longer responding to calls that aren't in-progress emergencies; no desk officers from 3 a.m. to 7 a.m.Pittsburgh police announced in February they no longer will respond to calls that aren't in-progress emergencies — and there won't be desk officers on duty from 3 a.m. to 7 a.m. WXPI-TV noted that "essentially means that calls for criminal mischief, theft, harassment and burglary alarms, just to name a few, will all be handled by the telephone reporting unit or online reporting." Seattle cop seems to defend leftists blocking traffic, says 'purpose of protesting' is making us 'a little bit uncomfortable' — (@) This isn't a full-on retreat from lawlessness, but the story is worth repeating for the sheer incredibleness of it. Last November a Seattle police officer was caught on video standing feet away from left-wing protesters blocking downtown traffic — and he also seemed to defend their actions in the faces of annoyed motorists, telling them "it is what it is" and that the "purpose of protesting" sometimes means making others' lives "a little bit uncomfortable." Got it.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Automakers love to wow us with the latest infotainment systems — and it's not just to move more cars. The private data these apps gather provides a nice secondary income stream for car companies.Dutch conglomerate Stellantis — which owns Ram, Dodge, Jeep, and Chrysler, among other brands — harvests so much data that it recently started a separate company to sell it. Overuse has blunted the power of the term "Orwellian," but it certainly applies to the mobile surveillance states these companies have created in the vehicles they sell.It is not alone. If your vehicle has any kind of connectivity, chances are you've inadvertently consented to having all sorts of data tracked: from your location and direction of travel to your speed. Not to mention the possibility of in-car audio recording. You don’t sign these agreements at the dealership. No one will hand you paperwork and confirm you understand what you’re agreeing to before you click confirm. You buy your car, go to use one of the integrated services like the built-in apps, radio, maps, Wi-Fi, autonomous driving features, phone connectivity, etc., and a screen pops up requiring you to agree to the terms of service.Most of us simply click "yes" rather than scroll through the copious legalese. Anyone who does make it through the fine print essentially gets this message: When you get in your car, you become a highly lucrative data source for the car company and its partners. You can opt out! If you can figure out how. Some services automatically activate if you don't withdraw consent within a certain time period, often as short as a week. Again, this information is buried deep in the fine print. What about Apple CarPlay? I have far more faith in Apple's information protection than I do in SiriusXM, which partnered with Guardian, a new company that no one really knows about. These companies hope people will assume it's part of their satellite radio service, but it has nothing to do with satellite radio. You can call SiriusXM and get the radio service without this extra security service, but most people don't know that.Android Auto and Google-based devices are even worse for protecting your privacy. On a computer, consumers can can safeguard their information by using browsers Brave or Duck Duck Go. On the road, they have no such option, at least for now. Overuse has blunted the power of the term "Orwellian," but it certainly applies to the mobile surveillance states these companies have created in the vehicles they sell. In its quarterly earnings call last month, Volvo asserted that data harvesting is set to become one of its main profit centers. The company will maintain a competitive advantage through its superior ability to monitor the activities of their drivers via more powerful computers, cameras, microphones, and other sensors. Then there's GM, whose OnStar system has become quite adept at hoovering up anything and everything about its users. GM's Global B architecture (standard in the C8 Corvette and most new Cadillacs) constantly uploads your info and enables GM to monitor and even disable your vehicle. In the event of a crash, GM will receive data on your speed, braking, reaction time, as well as the location of other vehicles. While this is ostensibly to protect GM from lawsuits, this information can also be accessed by insurance companies and the government. GM even performs AI analysis on thousands of traffic violation data sets to show how self-driving (Super Cruise) and automatic driver assist software features make cars safer. No, you can't turn this off. It's for your own good. You can, however, see what exactly your car knows about you. U.S.-based Privacy4Cars offers a free Vehicle Privacy Report based on your car's VIN. One day soon we may see a person arrested, charged, convicted, and sent to prison entirely based on evidence from vehicle monitoring. Until that happens, most consumers will settle for giving up their privacy in exchange for a little convenience.

Mississippi joins at least eleven other states in enacting a transgender bathroom law.

His switch on Israel, from support to impediment, now has all sides upset.

In 2016, Donald Trump needed judicial conservatives to win. He should reassure them again instead of taking them for granted.

Sights and sounds in the British capital — plus an excursion into the ‘heartland.’