Medicaid's Waivers Are Out of Control – But Also Show How to Save the Program

The American Voter: Enlightened or Buffoonded

from DollarVigilante: TRUTH LIVES on at https://sgtreport.tv/

by Eric Zuesse, The Duran: Ritter has, for many years, been personally in contact with the individual whom Putin has sent in to eliminate Ukraine’s invaders of Kursk in Russia, and Ritter states (at 35:00) that this individual (“Apty”) tells him that “The Russian Ministry of Defense has lied to itself so many times that they […]

from The Ron Paul Liberty Report: TRUTH LIVES on at https://sgtreport.tv/

And here it is. “A ‘MonkeyPox Vaccine’ will protect those most at risk, especially as you mentioned the children. It’s spreading very rapidly and could pose a threat to rest of the World…” -W.H.O. pic.twitter.com/S6Ihknf3t9 — Liz Churchill (@liz_churchill10) August 15, 2024

by By Robert F. Turner, All News Pipeline: President Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer have called the Supreme Court “out of control“ and “extreme.” But their efforts to undermine and intimidate the Court are as dangerous to our constitutional system as they are disingenuous, for they represent a monarchal effort to control the […]

  In the late 13th century and early 12th centuries BCE, the kingdoms and city-states of the eastern Mediterranean basin were devastated by a series of attacks. The people leading the attacks were a collection of disparate tribes who sometimes aligned while at other times worked alone. These tribes became collectively known as the “Sea Peoples” based on Egyptian texts that referred to them as the “people beyond the sea.” Modern scholars of the Bronze Age have since referred to these people collectively as the Sea Peoples, but they remain enigmatic in many ways. The origins of these tribes, where they migrated to after the Bronze system collapsed, and perhaps most importantly, the role they played in that collapse, are all subjects of scholarly debate.   Before the Sea Peoples: The Late Bronze Age System A Collection of Amarna Letters, 14th century BCE, Akkadian-Cuneiform (Discovered in El Amarna, Egypt). Source: the British Museum, London   During the Late Bronze Age (c. 1550-1200 BCE) a geopolitical system formed in the eastern Mediterranean and the Near East known by modern scholars as the “Great Powers Club.” The most constant members of the club were Egypt, Hatti, Kassite Babylon, and Alyshia (Cyprus). Mitanni was an early member that was replaced by Assyria and Arzawa may also have been a member. The Great Powers arranged diplomatic marriages, trade agreements, and military alliances with each other. The smaller Canaanite city-states of the Levant/Syria-Palestine were subordinate members and sometimes fought over as proxies, especially between the Egyptians and Hittites, but major conflicts were, for the most part, avoided.   The Warrior Vase from Mycenae, Mycenean, Early 12th century BCE. Source: the National Archaeological Museum, Athens   The correspondence between the Great Powers was documented in a collection of Akkadian-cuneiform tablets known as the Amarna Letters. The letters detail how the kings of the major kingdoms referred to each other as equals, while the Canaanite kings were treated as inferiors. The documents also demonstrate how the borders were more-or-less open from Egypt to Persia and from the Black Sea to the Red Sea for trade. The Kingdom of Elam and the Mycenaeans were also involved in this system, although they are not mentioned in the Amarna Letters. This system brought peace, stability, and prosperity to millions of people, but it quickly collapsed in the late thirteenth century.   Who Were the Sea Peoples? Ivory Mirror Handle from Cyprus, Alyshia, 1250-1050 BCE. Source: the British Museum, London   Before examining the reasons for the collapse of the Bronze Age system, it is important to identify the people who played a major role in it: the Sea Peoples. The Sea Peoples unsuccessfully attempted to invade Egypt twice, once during the fifth year of King Merneptah (ruled c. 1224-1204 BCE) and once in Ramesses III’s (ruled 1184-1153 BCE) eighth year. According to the “Stela of Merneptah,” at least five Sea Peoples tribes invaded Egypt along with their Libyan allies.   “The wretched, fallen chief of Libya, Meryey, son of Ded, has fallen upon the country of Tehenu with his bowmen . . . Sherden, Shekelesh, Ekwesh, Luka, Teresh, taking the best of every warrior and every man of war of his country.”   The text further lists a casualty count of 6,000 Libyans and 1,000 Sea Peoples. This text not only names five Sea Peoples tribes but also indicates that they were politically sophisticated enough to form confederations. It is believed that these tribes sailed across the Mediterranean from Europe directly to Libya, where they formed an alliance with the Tehenu (Libyans). Some scholars have noted that this attempted invasion took place around the same time as the destruction of Troy. Scholars have also pointed out the similarity of the name Ekwesh with Achaean, suggesting that this tribe was comprised of marauding Mycenaeans/Achaeans.   Granite Bust of Ramesses III, Egyptian, 1187-1156 BCE (Twentieth Dynasty of the New Kingdom). Source: the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston   The textual evidence of the attempted Sea Peoples invasion during Ramesses III’s rule come from the second pylon of the Medinet Habu Temple. As with the first invasion, a coalition of Sea Peoples tribes are mentioned as being allied with the Libyans. Part of the text reads:   “They came with fire prepared before them, forward to Egypt. Their main support was Peleset, Thekel, Shekelesh, Denyen, and Weshesh, [these] lands were united, and they laid their hands upon the land as far as the Circle of the Earth. Their hearts confident, full of their plans.”   With the exception of the Shekelesh, these were all newly named tribes that attacked Egypt. The second pylon of Medinet Habu is also important because pictorial reliefs accompanied the text. The reliefs show families and livestock moving with the Sea Peoples’ armies, indicating that migration was part of the invasion.   When the Sea Peoples invasions finally ended, the Mediterranean and Near East had drastically changed. The Medinet Habu text states that Sea Peoples destroyed the Hittite’s kingdom as well as the Levantine cities of Kode, Carchemish, Arvad, and Alasa. Additionally, the Sea Peoples ravaged Cyprus, destroyed Ugarit, and sacked many Mycenaean cities. The Sea Peoples were clearly the weapon that destroyed the Bronze Age system, but many scholars believe they were only one factor in a much larger process.   The Bronze Age Collapse & The Sea Peoples Silver Drinking Vessel, Hittite, 14th to 13th century BCE. Source: the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York   If the Sea Peoples were only part of the picture in the collapse of the Late Bronze system, what were some other potential factors that contributed to it? Many scholars have looked for environmental factors to explain how a domino effect began that pushed tribe after tribe from Europe into the Near East. Some have argued that a series of powerful earthquakes started the process, but others do not agree. Those opposed to the earthquake hypothesis point out that a lack of technology would have mitigated the impact of earthquakes, such as widespread fires.   This is not to say that earthquakes had no impact on the collapse, just that their effect was minimal. Drought, of which there is some textual evidence, was another environmental factor that probably played an even bigger role in the collapse. Herodotus (I, 94) wrote that during the reign of the Bronze Age Lydian King Atys, there was a severe drought in Anatolia. The previously mentioned text from Merenptah’s rule also mentions how he took “grain in ships, to keep live that land of Kheta.” Kheta, here being an Egyptian form of the name of the Hittite’s kingdom.   Bronze Figurine of the Goddess Astarte, Ugaritic (Ugarit/Ras Sharma), 1550-1150 BCE. Source: the Louvre Museum, Paris   The drought may have caused the Sea Peoples tribes to begin migrating in search of more fertile lands, while a population explosion in the Aegean may have exacerbated the situation. For example, studies show that the region of Messenia reached a peak of 50,000 people in the late thirteenth century. When combined with the drought conditions, the lack of land led many young Mycenaean men to try their luck as warriors and marauders. Some of these young men turned their weapons on fellow Mycenaeans while others traveled east and south.   As drought and overpopulation began to spread throughout the Aegean and the Sea Peoples started their attacks, other people also started migrating. The Arameans, Hebrews, and Chaldeans emerged from the deserts of the Near East at this time and the Indo-European Phrygians swooped down from Europe into Anatolia. The Hittites and their capital city of Hattusa took the brunt of these early attacks. Although the Hittites were a well-organized, martial society, they could not withstand the combined Phrygian and Sea Peoples attacks, and as mentioned earlier, eventually fell. Once Hattusa and the Hittites fell, the Sea Peoples had an open and relatively easy march through the Levant to Egypt.   What Happened to the Sea Peoples? Relief of Assyrian Soldiers Sieging a City, Neo-Assyrian, 700-695 BCE. Source: the British Museum, London   The most immediate aftermath of the Sea Peoples invasions was the destruction of the Hittite Empire and the erasure of the city-state of Ugarit. The greatest beneficiary of this geopolitical shift was Assyria, which became the premier Near Eastern power for the first half of the first millennium BCE. But what happened to the Sea Peoples tribes? A combination of Egyptian texts, archaeology, and philology can help answer this question partially.   It is important to remember that the Sea Peoples were several different tribes and the names the Egyptians gave them were apparently demonyms, or became demonyms. The possible Ekwesh-Achaean-Mycenaean connection has already been discussed, but philological-linguistic connections can also be drawn from many more of the tribes. The Teresh are often believed to be associated with Tuscany and the Etruscans. It is unknown if that was their origin or if they settled there and gave their name to the region. It should also be pointed out that in Virgil’s Aeneid the Trojans fled the destruction of their city to settle in Rome. Many modern scholars also believe that the Tjecker and Sekelesh originated in Sicily and then settled in the Levant.   Early Etruscan Alabastron, Etruscan, 600-575 BCE. Source: the British Museum, London   The Luka and Danuna probably originated in Anatolia, with the Luka’s homeland being Lycia. The Danuana were possibly related to the land of Danuna mentioned in Hittite texts, which is the Adana region of Cilicia. One theory is that the Danuna settled in the Levant and joined or became the biblical tribe of Dan.   Of all the Sea Peoples, the Weshesh and the Sherden/Shardana had the most impact in Egypt. The geographic origins of the Weshesh are a mystery, but the “Papyrus Harris,” which was written during the rule of Ramesses III, mentions that they were settled as captives in Egypt. More is known about the Sherden, who served as mercenaries under Ramesses II (ruled c. 1290-1224 BCE) at the Battle of Kadesh (c. 1285 BCE). It is likely that some Sherden warriors volunteered their skills to the Egyptians, while others decided to fight against them. Some members of the Sherden, like the Weshesh, were also forcibly settled in the Egyptian Delta. The name “Shardana” is believed to refer to their homeland of Sardinia, or perhaps that is where some settled after the Bronze Age collapse.   Faience Tile of a Peleset/Philistine Chief, Egyptian, 1184-1153 BCE (Reign of Ramesses III) (Twentieth Dynasty of the New Kingdom). Source: the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston   The Peleset are perhaps the most interesting of the Sea Peoples. The Peleset possibly originated in Cilicia before invading the Levant, where they settled and became the biblical Philistines. The Philistines were later defeated by the Israelites, but their legacy is still seen today. The Philistines played an important role in the formation of the Kingdom of Israel and the modern term “Palestine” is likely derived from their name.

  The golden ratio is a subject debated among mathematicians, historians, psychologists, artists and the like for centuries. Most often, its origins and use in Greek sciences and architecture is a controversial point of discussion. Some state that the Greeks used the irrational number in everyday life, while others believe the opposite: that the Greeks were not even aware of this proportion. This article considers the history of the golden ratio and its use in Greek architecture and construction, arguably some of the most important remains of the ancient civilization.   The History of the Golden Ratio Example of the golden ratio device in detail   The golden ratio is a phenomenon in geometry where a straight line is divided into 2 segments in the ratio 1.618. The ratio of the whole line to the longer segment equals the ratio of the longer segment to the shorter segment and so forth. This ratio is also stated by the Greek letter phi (φ).   Many authors, mathematicians and historians have stated that Pythagoras first used this ratio in geometry. However, the fragments of his work that remain make no mention of the ratio. The first time in Greek science that the golden ratio was clearly mentioned, was by Euclid in 300 BCE. This is almost two centuries after Pythagoras’ death. Still, due to the known Greek fascination with irrational numbers in mathematics, it is probable that the golden ratio originated before Euclid.   Vitruvian Man by Leonardo Da Vinci, c. 1490. Source: Gallerie Accademia Venezia   The golden ratio is also often called the “divine” ratio and is believed to carry great importance in the existence of the entire universe. The first time the ratio was explicitly connected to the divine was by the Italian mathematician Luca Pacioli around 1509. In his book De Divinia Proportione, he studied Leonardo da Vinci’s drawings, concluding that the ratio must be “divine” in nature. Later, the first time the ratio was mentioned as “golden” was by German mathematician, Martin Ohm in 1835.   The golden ratio was later popularized by German psychologist Adolf Ziesling, in the middle of the 19th century. He asserted that the ratio can be seen as a type of “universal law” by pointing out its expression in the geometry of natural objects. The proportion can be identified in crystals, leaves, shapes of branches and even the nerves of animals.   In Art and Architecture Pyramids at Giza. Source: Unsplash / Osama Elsayed   Many examples of ancient art and architecture have been analyzed and said to have been designed according to the golden ratio. The great pyramids of Giza, Stonehenge, Da Vinci’s The Last Supper and Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam are some of the most popular examples. The golden ratio is still present in Greek sculpture, while used intentionally or not, to determine the best proportions to sculpt the human body.   Proportions in Greek Architecture Proportions in various Greek temples via planetminecraft.com   The use of proportions in architecture was very important for the ancient Greeks. It was their main way of composing and building their temples on a mathematical basis. They also used proportions to impose importance and meaning to their architecture. This is where the caveat comes in when determining whether the Greeks built according to the golden ratio.   The Greeks employed a strong system of proportions in all their architectural creations, and the golden ratio can be used as such a system of proportions on which to base any design. The overlap between these systems causes confusion around the Greek use of the golden ratio.   By the 5th century BCE, Greeks had established a method for designing temples of the Doric style. This allowed them to accurately plan designs, speed up the construction process, and achieve unity within their architecture.   Plan of a Greek temple. Source: Wikimedia Commons   To determine the foundation of a temple, the architect needed to know the overall length of the temple and the number of columns it would have. It was standard for most Doric temples to have six columns at the front. Thus, the decision to be made was for the columns on the sides of the temple, the number of which usually ranged between ten to sixteen columns. The ratio of the columns on the front to the number of columns on the sides determined the overall form of the temple. This was known as the column-number ratio.   The Doric, Ionic and Corinthian orders in Greek temple design. Source: visual-arts-cork.com   The column-number ratio was then used as the ratio for the stylobate of the temple in some of the earliest temples. It was also used as the ratio for the krepis in most temples built between c. 535 and c. 320 BCE. The key to the design of most Doric temples was that the width of a triglyph could be determined from the length of the krepis.   The dimensions for a triglyph were determined by multiplying the number of columns by five and dividing the product into the length. By marking off this length, the architect could determine how far apart columns needed to be placed so that they would later align with the frieze.   This method was applied to most, if not all, Greek Doric temples, with few exceptions. Most notably, the renowned Parthenon.   The Parthenon (432 BCE) Parthenon: elevation of the portico restored, After Nicholas Revett in the Antiquities of Athens, 1787. Source: Royal Academy of Arts   Perhaps the most well-known Greek temple, The Parthenon has repeatedly been said to have been built according to the golden ratio. However, it was more likely based on the principal Greek design methods of Doric temples, then modified to enhance its importance.   Studies into the design and construction of the Parthenon revealed that the ratio used was 1:2.25. For the temple to have been built according to the golden ratio, this number would have had to be 1.618.   The use of the ratio 1:2.25 allowed the stylobate to fit easily within a slightly broader krepis and these ratios allowed the steps to be nearly the same width. This number is also repeated in the ratio of the diameter of the column to the distance between the columns’ axes.   There are other aspects of the Parthenon that add to the argument that it was not built according to the golden ratio. The side of the Parthenon that is most often examined for its hypothetical golden section design, is the back of the temple, not the front. In ancient Greece, those who wanted to enter the temple had to walk around and enter from the opposite east side.   Map of the Acropolis with the Parthenon and nearby Chalkotheke via researchgate.net   Most ancient Greek temples were oriented east to west, yet the Parthenon is oriented northeast to southwest. If the Parthenon had been designed according to this “divine” proportion, its architects would have emphasized the narrow side of the temple where this was applied. This means the temple would have been more closely oriented east to west to connect to the only entrance of the Acropolis. Because of its orientation, when approaching the Parthenon, both the long and narrow sides are visible at a precise angle.   Finally, when examining the Parthenon’s elevation for the golden section proportions, the analyst would have to stand on the axis of the narrow west side. However, in ancient times it was impossible to stand there and view the Parthenon from that angle. The Chalkotheke, a 43m long building housing the gifts offered to Athena, was built there at the time. This shows that the architect never intended the Parthenon to be viewed from such an angle to perceive these hypothetical “divine” proportions.   Was the Golden Ratio Used in Greek Architecture? Typical design of a Greek Doric temple via wherecreativityworks.com   While nobody can say for sure, there are some examples that point to the possible use of the golden ratio in Greek Architecture. It can be observed that the Greeks were especially fond of using a system of proportions for their most important Doric temples. Whether this is enough to prove that they were aware of the golden ratio, or if the mathematical proportions were just a coincidence, remains up for debate.

A Prayer for God’s Restoration in Relationships By Christine Perry  “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” – 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 NKJV  With the fall of Adam and Eve, sin spread to all mankind. With our sinful nature, we are prone to selfishness, pride, and every kind of evil. When we are in relationships, our selfishness, pride, harsh words, and actions rise to the surface. Sometimes, someone may say something that causes us to react. Other times, we act out of tiredness, sickness, or hunger. In other cases, things can be much more severe, such as abandonment, abuse, toxic behaviors, etc. When the hurt is deep, it’s hard to think and act lovingly. Our defenses shoot up out of our need to protect ourselves. It can be hard to navigate certain relationships. However, it’s important to remember that regardless of what someone else has said or done to us, we are responsible before God for our actions. Please know this does not mean that if you’ve gotten out of an abusive relationship, you should forgive and walk back into it. Romans 12:18 says, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” Sometimes, on this side of heaven, certain relationships are irreconcilable. For damaged relationships, the first step toward restoration is prayer. We can ask God to help us see the wrong we may have done. In every relationship, there are two different perspectives, and you may have done something unintentionally that hurt the other person. I remember a few times being upset over something someone had done. Initially, I took offense and thought they meant to hurt me. However, when I talked it through, after praying about it and asking God to reveal my wrong, I was able to express my hurt and hear their part of the story. Both times, I had misjudged something and found I was wrong in some area. No one is perfect, and because of our sins, no one is innocent. Even if we feel we did no wrong, we can sin in our reaction or thought toward someone who has hurt us. God sees everything we do, say, and think. Read Psalm 139 for proof! 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 says that because Christ reconciled us to Himself, we also have the ministry of reconciliation. One of the definitions of reconciliation is restoration to favor. As I mentioned previously, some relationships are not able to be restored on this side of heaven, but we can always pray for restoration, especially if the other person does not know the Lord. The first restoration that should happen is our restoration with the Lord, next the other person’s restoration with the Lord, and then restoration with each other.  James Dobson said, “Prayer is the ultimate source of strength and guidance.” We can count on the Lord to help us when we come to Him for help.  Let’s pray: Dear Lord,Thank You for creating us as relational beings. Thank You for our relationships with You and with others. Relationships can be wonderful and also really tough. I pray that You would first help us examine ourselves so that we have a clean heart. I also pray that You would give us wisdom in our relationships. God, You say that You oppose the proud but give grace to the humble. Lord, I pray that You would help us be humble and kind in our relationships. We desperately need Your help. You are the only one who can see both hearts in a situation. I ask that restoration come into our relationships with you and with each other. I pray that You would restore friendships, family relationships, our relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ, and our marriages. God, we know that You sent Jesus on earth, and He was tempted in every way but did not sin, even in His relationships. You know what it has felt like to be betrayed, hurt, and have broken relationships. But as reconciliation happened between Peter and You, I pray that You would bring restoration in my relationship with (fill in the person's name). Lord, we know it delights Your heart when we are in unity, so I pray for Your will and way to take place in my relationships. And if restoration is not possible, I pray that I will still bring You honor and glory through my thoughts, words, and actions. In Jesus' name, Amen.  Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/simonapilolla Christine is just a lady who was given the gift of being raised in an incredible family. For reasons unknown to her, God has blessed her with an amazing life full of beautiful friendships, remarkable experiences, and a love from Him that is completely underserved. She desires to encourage others and share hope as we journey through the highs and lows of life. Christine is the author of How I Met Peace and For the Weary Life Traveler, a 31-day devotional. Check out more of Christine’s work at her website:  Learning to be fearless and her Patreon. Related Resource: Remember God’s Enduring Love for You in this Guided Meditation on Psalm 100! This guided Christian meditation from Psalm 100 will help you experience and praise God for his unending love for you. Become aware of God's presence with you, and praise God for his loyal and enduring love from the beginning of time and into the future. Listen to every episode of the So Much More Podcast on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode! Now that you’ve prayed, are you in need of someone to pray for YOU? Click the button below! Visit iBelieve.com for more inspiring prayer content. The post A Prayer for God’s Restoration – Your Daily Prayer – August 17  appeared first on GodUpdates.