Is The Establishment Trying to Push Biden Out?

California is gearing up for another superbloom this spring – and it’s set to be an impressive one‚ with swathes of rainbow-colored wildflowers expected to bejewel the state’s hillsides. However‚ state park officials are begging visitors to enjoy the flowers responsibly.The Golden State experienced blooms in 2017‚ 2019‚ and 2023‚ attracting hundreds of thousands of people eager to catch a glimpse of the spectacle. While appreciation of the bloom is encouraged‚ the deluge of visitors takes its toll on the landscape.“In recent years‚ California has been lucky to see spectacular wildflower blooms in many public lands‚ including in state parks‚” said State Parks Director Armando Quintero in a statement. “We welcome all Californians and visitors from around the world to experience this natural phenomenon and ask all to keep the ‘Beauty in the Bloom’ by staying on designated trails and taking only photos‚ not flowers.”A superbloom is a rare phenomenon in California and the US Southwest‚ whereby seeds that have lain dormant in the soil germinate and blossom at more or less the same time. Blooms tend to occur following an unusually wet rainy season‚ as heavy rain transforms the sometimes desert-like terrain‚ resulting in a floral explosion.Factors including the amount and timing of the rain‚ amount of sunlight‚ humidity levels‚ and seasonal temperature patterns can all impact the bloom. At their peak‚ California’s superblooms can be so extensive that they’re visible from space.Superbloom at California's Walker Canyon‚ 2017.Image credit: Beau Rogers via Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0)This year‚ following a winter of record-breaking rainfall‚ visitors may expect to see a rainbow of lupine‚ coreopsis‚ desert sunflowers‚ evening or brown-eyed primroses‚ desert bells‚ desert poppies‚ and desert lilies. According to public land managers‚ a “good” to “better-than-average” wildflower bloom is on the cards.If you’re planning to peek at the carpeted hillsides in person‚ the California Department of Parks and Recreation urges that you respect the landscape by sticking to designated trails‚ and refrain from trampling or picking the flowers. Drone use is also restricted‚ and you may need a filming permit from individual state park units. Dogs should be kept on a leash on designated roads‚ in campgrounds‚ and in picnic areas‚ and are not permitted on hiking trails.Ultimately‚ they ask that you “help keep the landscapes pristine‚ leaving it better than when you arrived by packing out anything you packed in.” The department also cautions that you take care of yourself and come prepared with plenty of food and water‚ appropriate clothing‚ and sunscreen.And if you’ve had your fix of flowers‚ last year California experienced a “supershroom” as an abundance of mushrooms sprouted up across the state.

An elaborate artifact that was once used to tell the time and calculate distances appears to have been used by members of three different faiths during its long and storied life. Known as an astrolabe‚ the relic has been dated to the 11th century CE and bears inscriptions in Arabic‚ Hebrew‚ and Western numerals.Astrolabes are pocket-sized maps of the universe that enable users to plot the position of the stars. The etchings – which are clearly the work of multiple different individuals – are likely to have been made in numerous locations across Europe and North Africa‚ suggesting that the item passed between the hands of Islamic‚ Jewish‚ and Christian owners as it made its way along ancient networks of scientific exchange.Remarkably‚ the 1‚000-year-old astrolabe was identified by complete chance when Dr Federica Gigante of Cambridge University came across a picture of the item on the website of the Fondazione Museo Miniscalchi-Erizzo in Verona‚ Italy. “The museum didn’t know what it was‚ and thought it might actually be fake‚” said Gigante in a statement. “It’s now the single most important object in their collection.”After visiting the museum to study the astrolabe up close‚ Gigante was able to match the style of the original Arabic engraving to that seen on similar instruments from the Islamic-ruled Al-Andalus region (now Andalusia) of Spain in the 11th century. The position of the stars represented on the astrolabe’s rete – or celestial map – also align with this period‚ thus corroborating the age of the device.The ancient astrolabe contains a map of the stars.Image credit: Federica GiganteEtched onto the metal relic are Muslim prayer lines‚ arranged to help the original user keep to daily prayer times. One side of the plate also contains an Arabic inscription reading “for the latitude of Toledo‚ 40°‚” indicating that the astrolabe may have been manufactured here at a time when Toledo was inhabited by large populations of Muslims‚ Jews‚ and Christians.The instrument also bears a signature featuring the names Is&;amacr;q and Ynus. According to Gigante‚ these may be Jewish names written in Arabic script‚ suggesting that the astrolabe may at one time have been circulating within Spain’s Arabic-speaking Jewish community.A further set of inscriptions representing North African latitudes suggest that the item later traveled to Morocco or Egypt‚ while the presence of Hebrew lettering indicates that it eventually ended up back amongst European Jews. “These Hebrew additions and translations suggest that at a certain point the object left Spain or North Africa and circulated amongst the Jewish diaspora community in Italy‚ where Arabic was not understood‚ and Hebrew was used instead‚” explained Gigante.A final set of inscriptions including Western numerals were then probably made by a Latin or Italian speaker in Verona‚ as the astrolabe eventually found its way into Christian hands. Summarizing the significance of this discovery in a new study‚ Gigante writes that “The astrolabe… stands out as a testimony to the contacts and exchanges among Arabs‚ Jews and Europeans in the medieval and early modern periods.”The study is published in the journal Nuncius.

Talk about paranoid conspiracy theorists! On MSNBC's The Weekend on Sunday morning‚ leftist historian Michael Beschloss claimed the "chances are very large" that in October 2024‚ i.e.‚ just before the election‚ Putin‚ China‚ Erdogan‚ etc. are "going to make a big effort to make trouble and chaos to make Joe Biden look bad." Beschloss also fretted that there would be "domestic unrest in American cities" at the same time. He analogized the situation to how voters lost confidence in Jimmy Carter in 1980 over his handling of the Iranian hostage crisis. Beschloss imagined the proverbial "independent women in the Philadelphia suburbs" saying that despite Trump making their "skin crawl‚" they would vote for him anyhow since Biden "has lost control."  A recurring theme of the segment was Beschloss describing the 2024 election as a choice between "democracy and dictatorship." Co-anchor Michael Steele asked Beschloss to explain why Trump voters are "susceptible" to his pitch‚ even though he is telling them of his plans to be a "dictator." Hilariously‚ Beschloss blamed people's support for Trump on . . . schools! He declared that schools have stopped teaching civics‚ or much of history or social studies‚ so people haven't learned the difference between democracy and dictatorship!  Riight! So‚ government schools‚ controlled by the rabidly leftist teachers unions‚ have ditched civics and are teaching critical race theory‚ the 1619 history curriculum that casts America as fundamentally racist in which everything must be viewed through the prism of slavery‚ etc. But somehow‚ despite their best efforts to indoctrinate students to be good little leftists‚ the kids wind up supporting Trump! The recent New York Times/Siena poll gives the lie to Beschloss's looney theory. The youngest age group‚ people 18-29‚ are the most likely to support Biden. In other words‚ the leftist indoctrination since the ditching of civics has been successful with them. The people most likely to vote for Trump are middle-aged‚ 45-64‚ who went to school when civics were still being taught‚ and leftist doctrine had not yet totally gained domination of the curriculum. Here's the transcript. MSNBC The Weekend 3/3/24 8:05 am ET MICHAEL BESCHLOSS: We're not only facing‚ as you said‚ a domestic authoritarian threat from Donald Trump and people who want to see this a dictatorship next year‚ but at the same time‚ he is connecting with dictators abroad: Viktor Orban‚ Putin‚ perhaps the leader of Turkey‚ possibly elements in China and elsewhere. These people are going to lock arms -- and I'm only responsible for the past‚ not the future‚ but‚ given all of this‚ if these hostile governments would like to see a Trump elected‚ take a look at October 2024. The chances that they're not going to make a big effort to make trouble and chaos to make Joe Biden look bad -- I think those chances are very large. . . .  ALICIA MENENDEZ: I wonder in what ways you expect the State of the Union address we're going to hear from President Biden on Thursday‚ yes‚ he will take credit for things that his administration has done. To what extent will he also be creating a contrast with Donald Trump? BESCHLOSS: He has to! And that's what Roosevelt did in '41. He said‚ this is not a normal year. You know‚ Americans have to make a choice. We have to‚ essentially‚ choose between freedom and democracy‚ or worldwide slavery and dictatorship. Any other year‚ that would be an overstatement‚ you know‚ of people running for office in this country for president say‚ the most important American election in history. Usually‚ it's not. It's over tax cuts or something. This year‚ it could have to do with whether people literally end up going to prison by the threat of Donald Trump‚ who has threatened to use our police and our military forces to go after his political enemies. MICHAEL STELLE: Help us if you can. What is it about people? Their move towards this type of a leader. I mean‚ see‚ I put it in terms of‚ are you really that desperate that you‚ that you're going to sacrifice your personal freedoms‚ thinking that his guy‚ who's telling you he'd going to be a dictator for a day‚ okay?  BESCHLOSS: No dictator is ever a dictator just for a day. He's being very clear aboutwhat he wants to do. STEELE: We've seen that a lot in history where a guy takes all the power‚ and here‚ have it back in 24 hours.  BESCHLOSS: [Inaudible] believe anything. STEELE: Why are people sort of susceptible to believing that‚ and moving into that space so readily‚ without critically tepping back and going‚ I'm looking around me‚ and looking around the world‚ and seeing where this type of behavior has not led to good things‚ you know? It's not elevated peoples' freedoms‚ but has taken those freedoms away. And they're like‚ okay‚ let's do that. What -- do you have some understanding of what moves people? BESCHLOSS: I think it begins with‚ you know‚ the schools don't teach civics anymore. they've cut out a lot of history and social studies. So‚ a lot of very smart people around the country with very good intentions no longer really know the difference between dictatorship and democracy. Plus‚ if we get to this fall‚ and there's chaos in the world‚ and it makes Joe Biden look like some elements of Jimmy Carter in October of 1980. A lot of people told pollsters‚ we think Carter is a good person‚ but he's lost control.  If that happens‚ and let's say there's domestic unrest in American cities. I'm afraid you're going to see‚ to put it very specifically‚ independent women in the suburbs of Philadelphia saying‚ you know‚ Trump makes my skin crawl and I hate what he's going to do‚ but Biden has lost control‚ and we have to do something. God help us if we come to that. It may happen.  

It was the simplicity that made classic Command and Conquer work so well. Units were governed by a straightforward rock‚ paper‚ scissors system - tanks can easily destroy buildings‚ but they’re weak against rocket infantry - and the UI and layout were instantly intuitive. Click here. Now click here. That’s it - you’ve built your base. While the Westwood classic lies dormant‚ long-time RTS fans are surely pining for the return of Command and Conquer. We’ve got the boomer shooter. Why not the boomer real-time strategy game? Taking inspiration from Tiberian Dawn‚ Red Alert‚ and even the music of Frank Klepacki‚ one visionary developer aims to fill the void left by C &; C. Available to play now‚ this is a new Steam RTS game with retro pedigree. Continue reading Command and Conquer gets a spiritual successor in new Steam RTS game MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best RTS games‚ Best strategy games‚ Best grand strategy games

While your gaming PC is responsible for game performance‚ it can only do so much‚ and your gaming mouse and keyboard are the tools that impact your K/D ratio on the servers. If your gear is looking a little worse for wear‚ we've found a brilliant gaming mouse and keyboard deal to get you back up to scratch. The Logitech G Pro peripherals are among the best gaming mouse and keyboards you can find‚ even if they've since been superseded by the Pro X Lightspeed line. As a limited-time deal‚ both the G Pro keyboard and mouse are available for $169.99‚ a saving of $89.99 over MSRP. Continue reading Act fast to get 34% off this Logitech gaming mouse and keyboard MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Logitech G Pro Superlight 2‚ Logitech G Pro X TKL Lightspeed review‚ Best gaming mouse

Despite LG not launching its new 'Dual-Mode' OLED gaming monitor yet‚ it already has a range of negative reviews due to its insistence on using a matte coating‚ which some claim ruins the OLED display. LG also revealed the monitor's price‚ which sits at the higher end of the 32-inch market‚ leading to further criticism. While LG hopes the new 32GD95UE-B will have a chance at being one of the best gaming monitors that money can buy‚ it seems as though LG has done little to please its audience despite the display not even being available yet. Continue reading New LG OLED monitor price confirmed‚ but no one seems happy about it MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card‚ Best gaming PC‚ Best SSD for gaming

I love when this happens. In the frenetic‚ fast-moving world of videogames‚ it seems like a lot of great work is quickly consumed‚ disposed of‚ and forgotten. Either that‚ or we pick a game - just one game‚ like Diablo 4 or Skyrim - and stick with it for years and years‚ neglecting to see what else is around. When something great from the past that we might otherwise have never played suddenly explodes again on Steam‚ it’s a nice reminder that some games are so good and so loved they can never truly disappear. 14 years since it first launched‚ one classic RPG game‚ with a full 10/10 rating from players‚ is suddenly taking over Valve’s platform. Like a legendary band stepping out for one final tour‚ if you want to enjoy the resurgence for yourself‚ this one is also 90% off. Continue reading 14 years later‚ beloved RPG game is suddenly blowing up on Steam MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best RPG games‚ Best strategy games‚ Best MMOs

Sunak argued that protests over the Israel-Gaza war have ‘descended into intimidation‚ threats‚ and planned acts of violence.’

Ortiz also accused Texas governor Greg Abbott of playing politics with the border.