by Rick McDowell‚ American Thinker: Pew Research succinctly states that American society sums up the genders as‚ “Strong men; caring women.” Here is a composite of research studies that address not just perceptions‚ but psychological profiling of thousands of Americans in statistically valid samples and what those subjects say are masculine and feminine traits: Traits traditionally […]

  Today‚ the exploits of the Punic Wars are often retold as the springboard that propelled the Romans from city-state to hegemon of the entire Mediterranean. The result of this is that we lose the Carthaginian perspective‚ seeing them only as a foil of Rome. If we are to understand the First Punic War‚ what caused it‚ why it was conducted the way it was‚ and how it was concluded‚ we must remember the geopolitical context in which it was fought and the motivations of two very different peoples.   Before the War: Carthaginian Foreign Policy Campanian cuirass found in the Punic tomb‚ 3rd-2nd century BCE. Source: the Bardo National Museum   Carthage’s experience on the island of Sicily had been defined by the seven wars it fought with the Sicilian Greeks. However‚ what gets overshadowed is why they would continue to send waves of multinational mercenaries aboard huge fleets into Sicily. The short answer is: shipping lanes.   After the subjugation of their mother colony‚ Tyre‚ by the Babylonians‚ the Carthaginians inherited a massive‚ trans-Mediterranean trade network running from southern Iberia in the west to the Levant in the east. If we look at the whole Mediterranean as an intricately interconnected commercial highway in the 6th century BCE‚ it becomes easier to understand why Carthage came to dominate the central Mediterranean.   If the Carthaginians were to ensure the security of these routes‚ they must control both lanes of traffic. Thus‚ the western tip of Sicily was paramount. Smaller Phoenician colonies had been established there centuries back and as Carthage grew in power‚ they soon fell under her sphere of influence.   Multiple attempts by Greek colonists (including the Doreius and Pentathlos affairs) to settle in the western third of Sicily drew quick and decisive reactions from the Carthaginians. Their entrance into multiple conflicts with the Sicilian Greeks were largely caused by Carthaginian distrust of Siculo-Greek coalitions and the ambitions of unpredictable tyrants in Syracuse. They were keen observers of the geopolitical situation in eastern Sicily‚ often intervening on behalf of smaller city-states as a check to Syracusan power. They were often quick to mobilize forces‚ but also receptive to parlay that initial aggressiveness into an advantageous peace treaty. They preferred intimidation tactics to open conflict.   The Carthaginians were not interested in territorial gains in and of themselves. More land required more of a martial commitment‚ but did provide the stability which the Carthaginians sought. The Romans‚ as we shall see‚ were their complete antithesis.   The Casus Belli  Coin minted under the Mamertines‚ showing a striding warrior‚ minted in Messana circa 264 BCE. Source: the British Museum.   According to Polybius‚ several treaties had been made between the Carthaginians and the Romans in the preceding centuries‚ and while these agreements demarcated their respective spheres of influence‚ commerce between them seemed robust‚ and relations amicable overall. That all changed in 264 BCE.   The Mamertines were a group of mercenaries that had once been under the employ of the Syracusans. Now‚ they had gone rogue and taken the cities of Messana and Rhegium for themselves. Rhegium sat in the very toe of the Italian‚ boot-shaped peninsula and Messana sat just across the water in Sicily. Two cities‚ sitting on either side of a vital shipping lane‚ were now in the hands of unpredictable mercenaries. The Romans besieged Rhegium while‚ separately‚ the Syracusans crushed the devious Mamertines in battle. The Mamertines’ desperation would lead to a near-comedic twist of factionalism in which both the Romans and Carthaginians were courted for their support. The latter were the first to respond. Enticed by the Mamertines’ control of the Messenian strait‚ and the fact that they were also enemies of the Syracusans‚ Carthage agreed to help.   The spheres of influence of Rome (red) and Carthage (purple) at the outset of the First Punic War. Source: Dickinson College Commentaries   The Romans‚ on the other hand‚ were conflicted on how to respond. The consul of that year‚ Appius Claudius Caudex‚ called for direct intervention‚ seeking the glory associated with being the first man to lead a Roman army outside of Italy. Their willingness to fight the Mamertines of Rhegium‚ but aid them in Messana‚ was a glaring hypocrisy that did not go unnoticed by Polybius.   The Romans were aware that if they answered the Mamertines’ call‚ conflict with the Carthaginians was likely. Just as the Carthaginians did not want a powerful Syracuse‚ the Romans‚ Polybius tells us‚ were fearful of the Carthaginians‚ who already had territory in Africa‚ Iberia‚ Sardinia‚ and Corsica‚ gaining dominion over the entirety of Sicily. The stage was set.   The Battle of Agrigentum  Battle Map of Sicily. Source: Dickinson College Commentaries   The opening years of the war‚ which had begun in 264 BCE‚ saw relatively little fighting. In fact‚ throughout the course of the multi-decade war‚ pitched battles in Sicily were rare. Agrigentum  (Akragas) was the exception.   The Romans did not yet have a navy numerable or competent enough to compete with the Carthaginians‚ so they moved two consular armies (≈ 40‚000 men) into Sicily and met a Carthaginian garrison at Agrigentum. Hannibal‚ son of Gisgo (not to be confused with Hannibal Barca)‚ had mustered an equitable force from the surrounding hinterlands and attacked the foraging Romans. Although overextended and unsuspecting‚ the Romans beat back the attack and began preparations for a siege.   Hannibal alerted the Carthaginians to the oncoming danger‚ and with the Romans unable to blockade the port‚ a relief army was deployed to Sicily. The besiegers quickly turned into the besieged. Both sides were pressured into a confrontation as food was running low amongst the Carthaginian inhabitants of Agrigentum‚ as well as its Roman besiegers.   Deploying in their characteristic triplex acies (triple battle line)‚ the Romans met the frontline of the Carthaginians‚ who were supported by war elephants. It may have been the case that the Romans‚ by way of fighting Pyrrhus‚ were more experienced with fighting war elephants than the Carthaginians were in using them. The Carthaginian line was routed and the advantage they held in elephants and Numidian cavalry was quickly negated by the aggressive Roman infantry. The Punic camp was captured‚ and soon‚ the Romans walked into the town of Agrigentum unopposed.   In typical Carthaginian form‚ they had been quite conciliatory in the first two years of the war‚ hoping that their immense wealth and resources would discourage the Romans from seeking actual battle. The Battle of Agrigentum marked the first significant meeting between the two powers and would ensure that the conflict would escalate.   The Battle of Cape Ecnomus  The Roman Fleet Victorious over the Carthaginians at the Battle of Cape Ecnomus by Gabriel Jacques de Saint-Aubin (French‚ 1724 – 1780)‚ Circa 1763. Source: Getty Museum   The ground war in Sicily descended into a stalemate. The rugged‚ mountainous terrain ensured progress was slow. Just as the Spartans realized in the Peloponnesian War‚ the Romans‚ Polybius tells us‚ realized there would be no decisive victory without a navy.   A Carthaginian shipwreck was confiscated by the Romans and reverse-engineered. Soon one hundred quinqueremes and twenty triremes had been constructed and put to sea. They could now seek a decisive end to the war by taking it to the Carthaginian homeland: Africa.   In 256 BCE‚ the Roman fleet numbering 350 warships and transports‚ commanded by both consuls‚ anchored outside the settlement of Ecnomus. Each ship carried 300 rowers and 120 marines. To counter the threat of Roman invasion‚ the Carthaginians mustered their armada‚ numbering 150‚000 men.   Relying on the superior speed of their vessels‚ the Carthaginians were arrayed in a long‚ linear formation. The Romans’ arrangement was much more condensed: three lines with the transports in the middle and the famed triarii serving as the rear reserve.   The Punic vessels quickly gained the edge‚ flanking the Romans‚ while they ordered an attack on the Roman center in an attempt to lure and separate the Roman frontline from their densely packed formation. Three separate ‘theaters’ of the battle were formed.   What they underestimated was the Roman ability to effectively turn what was a naval battle into a fight between infantry. The famed corvus (Latin for “raven” or “beak”) was a spiked gangway that the Romans could lower onto the decks of enemy ships. Under this pressure‚ the Carthaginian center did not hold. Their line broke and soon the Roman ships that had penetrated it‚ wheeled around to attack the flanks. It was a rout. The Carthaginians were broken and the road to Africa now laid open.   The Invasion of Africa   A corvus;a deck-mounted boarding device‚ circa mid-3rd century BCE. Source: Wikimedia Commons   The victors of Ecnomus‚ the consuls Marcus Atilius Regulus and Lucius Manlius Vulso sailed on to Africa‚ landing their armies on the Cape Bon peninsula‚ laying siege to the town of Aspis. It soon fell‚ and 20‚000 prisoners of war were taken.   Having recently been recalled from Sicily‚ Hamilcar‚ the Carthaginian commander‚ along with Hanno and Bostar‚ shadowed Regulus’ force and‚ much like at Agrigentum‚ they built a fort opposite the Roman’s besieging force. Polybius much maligns the Carthaginians’ decision. The high ground they occupied did not allow for them to use their superiority in numbers or the mobility of their units to the best effect. Noticing this error‚ Regulus immediately mounted an attack on the Carthaginian position. The hastily assembled Carthaginian army‚ under the command of three different generals‚ was not able to mount a sufficient defense against the dawn attack.   Using the momentum from his victory‚ Regulus seized Tunis and now threatened the walls of Carthage itself. Dejected by yet another defeat on African soil‚ the Carthaginians now sued for peace. However‚ Regulus’ terms for a peace treaty were so harsh that the Carthaginians had no other choice but to fight on.   Buoyed by the arrival of Spartan mercenaries in the spring of 255 BCE‚ the Carthaginians were able to field another army. Led by the Spartan Xanthippus‚ this force met the Romans at the Bagradas River where the Spartan utilized his cavalry and war elephants on open ground to overwhelm and annihilate the Romans. The consular army was completely wiped out and Regulus himself was captured. The Carthaginians would live to fight another day.   The Battle of the Aegates Islands  Regulus Returning to Carthage by Andries Cornelis Lens‚ 1791. Source: the Hermitage Museum   Despite the Carthaginians’ desperate victory over Regulus and the end of the immediate threat‚ the war would drag on for 14 more years.   The command of Carthaginian land forces would in the interim be turned over to Hamilcar Barca. Demonstrating his ability to competently lead a campaign‚ Hamilcar fought the Romans to a stalemate on land. He was‚ however‚ ill-equipped. The continued stalemate in Sicily and their recent successes at sea affirmed in the Roman’s minds that the war would be won on the waves. Hamilcar was trapped and he could do little more than watch as the climactic   battle of the war would be waged just off the coast of Sicily.   Growing short of manpower and funds to build a new fleet‚ Carthage mustered 250 more ships with the intention of first re-supplying Hamilcar and then collecting some of his men to serve as marines.   Fighting against strong winds‚ the Roman consul Gaius Catalus moved to intercept them before they were able to link up with Hamilcar. Sails raised and‚ laden down with supplies‚ the Carthaginian fleet was unprepared for an attack. The Roman fleet‚ 200-300 ships strong‚ crashed into their adversaries‚ ramming‚ boarding‚ and out-maneuvering them until over half of the Carthaginian ships sank into the sea.   It was a crippling defeat. Not only was Hamilcar’s prospect of continuing the war on land dashed‚ but so too was Carthage’s ability to defend at sea. The Carthaginian government was destitute from over two decades of war. Unwilling and unable to realistically carry on the war effort‚ Carthage ordered Hamilcar to begin the negotiation of a treaty.   A Carthaginian Peace The remnants of the Marsala Shipwreck; a Punic naval ship from the 3rd century BCE. Source: Museo Archeologico Regionale Lilibeo   Carthage ordered Hamilcar to begin the negotiation of a treaty. Incensed at the idea of capitulation and eager to avoid blame and prosecution at the hands of the Court of 104‚ he quickly distanced himself from the proceedings.   Rome too was nearly broke from the conflict. To finance the construction of another fleet and continue the war‚ they were forced to take loans from private citizens after the Battle of Drepana. These needed to be repaid. Yet‚ the Romans held all the leverage.   According to Polybius‚ the terms of the Treaty of Lutatius forced the Carthaginians to vacate Sicily‚ agree not to make war on Hiero or the Syracusans‚ return all Romans without ransom‚ and pay an indemnity of 2‚200 Euboic silver talents.   For Rome‚ who typically annexed their defeated enemies‚ the treaty was an admission of Carthage’s power‚ as well as their lack of solvency. While not as harsh as the terms following the Second and Third Punic Wars‚ it did firmly establish Rome’s control over Sicily‚ a region Carthage had spent an innumerable sum of money and lives protecting over the past five centuries or so.   For Carthage (and particularly Hamilcar)‚ it was seen as an insult‚ and in practical terms‚ an admission that they no longer dominated the central Mediterranean or retained the commercial benefits that came with it. This “Carthaginian Peace” would lead Polybius to relay the perhaps apocryphal story of Hamilcar forcing his son Hannibal to swear an oath upon an altar of Baal Hammon that he would always be an enemy of Rome.   First Punic War: Conclusion The Oath of Hannibal by Benjamin West‚ 1770. Source: The Royal Collection Trust   To the Carthaginians‚ a conflict with the Romans‚ begun after answering the call of a third party‚ would have felt very similar to the Sicilian Wars‚ conflicts which often ended in a peace treaty after a single battle or campaign. The course of the war was dictated as much by the precedent of Carthage’s experience fighting Greeks in Sicily as it did by the ingenuity and perseverance of the Roman aristocracy.   When the Romans lost their fleet after the Battle of Drepana in 249 BCE‚ the Roman aristocracy responded by providing the funds‚ interest-free‚ to the state to raise 200 new ships; an act which‚ according to British historian Adrian Goldsworthy‚ “should be interpreted as a gesture of genuine patriotism.”   Unarguably‚ the Romans were the more aggressive of the two peoples. While the Carthaginians clung to their strongholds and skirted the Italian coast looking for easy prey‚ the Romans were planning their knock-out blow. Although the invasion of Africa was ultimately unsuccessful‚ the resilience of the Roman people to pursue the war to its endgame proved to be too much for the Carthaginians to surmount.   Similarly‚ disastrous military affairs in Sicily over a century earlier had prompted Carthage’s own aristocracy to rise up and form the Court of 104‚ who would prosecute and crucify many of their own commanders for lack of competence‚ disavowing duty‚ or treason. Their response to adversity was factionalism‚ pointing fingers‚ and prosecution. Whereas the Romans‚ like Winston Churchill in 1940‚ would “never surrender.”   For one man‚ the mistakes the Carthaginians had made during the First Punic War were apparent. He had learned how his enemy fought‚ and he knew that if he were ever to beat them‚ he needed to fight like them. His name was Hannibal Barca‚ and his course was set for Italy.

Disney seems to constantly believe it needs to be involved with the LGBT crowd‚ this time partnering up with Kleenex to feature rainbow versions of Mickey and Minnie Mouse on tissue containers. The new collection was launched in a commercial that featured footage from "pride" parades where both men and...

A California duo recently made a discovery they referred to as "the holy grail of shark science." Phillip Sternes‚ a UC Riverside biology doctoral student‚ and Carlos Gauna‚ a wildlife filmmaker‚ captured a newborn great white shark shedding its embryonic layer in July 2023‚ according to SFGate. The pair's findings...

This is gonna make you sick‚ at least if you have ever had babies….and ever used Baby Powder on them from J&;J. According to new reports‚ it was alleged that the Johnson &; Johnson Baby Powder caused cancer (how nice) and now the company is proposing paying out $8.9 BILLION to settle those claims. We should be clear a settlement is not an admission of guilt or liability but it sure doesn’t look good! Watch this short clip: Have you heard about the massive J&;J baby powder settlement? Watch this: pic.twitter.com/umu9j4rIHB — DailyNoah.com (@DailyNoahNews) April 19‚ 2023 From the NY Times: Breaking News: Johnson &; Johnson agreed to pay $8.9 billion to settle claims that its talc products caused cancer‚ potentially ending a yearslong legal fight.https://t.co/0dVQNvenme — The New York Times (@nytimes) April 4‚ 2023 Johnson &; Johnson’s first attempt at using bankruptcy to escape claims that its popular baby powder caused cancer was an expensive gamble that drew public scorn and ended in failure https://t.co/cXuoWJ20zi — Bloomberg (@business) April 8‚ 2023 From Axios: Johnson &; Johnson said Tuesday it’s offering up to $8.9 billion to resolve lawsuits accusing the company of selling baby powder that caused cancer — an allegation that J&;J has repeatedly denied. Why it matters: J&;J faces tens of thousands of lawsuits from people and their survivors related to the company’s talc-based powder. Driving the news: J&;J disclosed the offer Tuesday in connection with its decision to re-file its subsidiary LTL Management in Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The Third Circuit Court of Appeals in January dismissed the original Chapter 11 petition made by LTL‚ the subsidiary J&;J created for the purpose of housing its talc liabilities and filing for bankruptcy. Details: The $8.9 billion in payments to alleged victims would be paid over 25 years “to resolve all the current and future talc claims‚” J&;J said in a statement. The company‚ which originally offered $2 billion‚ said it “has secured commitments from over 60‚000 current claimants” to support the deal. J&;J noted that it is not admitting wrongdoing — but fighting the cases “would take decades and impose significant costs” with “most claimants never receiving any compensation‚” said J&;J’s worldwide vice president of litigation‚ Erik Haas. What they’re saying: Law firms representing what they described as a majority of the victims released a statement saying their clients are supporting the proposed deal. “This settlement will provide expeditious‚ substantial and fair compensation to claimants who cannot afford to wait any longer for a resolution‚” the victims’ representatives said Tuesday in a statement. Makes me absolutely sick to think parents had no idea. What is wrong with these companies??? Keep reading‚ I have a very important announcement for you below on what YOU can do to keep you and your family and your kids safe!  So important!   More on that in just a minute below… I love what Chris Greene says here‚ he’s spot on: Even baby powder causes cancer and parents gave it to their kids. U don’t think the jab does? https://t.co/fXOrSZKG9i — Christopher Greene (@amtvmedia) April 5‚ 2023 Think it’s just a one-off situation? Just an “accident”? Sorry folks‚ it’s happening ALL OVER THE PLACE with these big companies. From Baby Powder we move to Spices. Think the Spice Rack is safe? Not unless you like eating literal rat poison! For real‚ check this out: WARNING: Arsenic‚ Cadmium‚ and Lead Found In Major Brand Name Spices! Heads up folks! This is a major consumer products alert… Do you love to cook with spices? Of course‚ who doesn’t? Variety is the spice of life‚ and spices are the‚ uhhhh‚ spice of cooking! But what happens when you reach for the Onion Powder or the Oregano‚ and along with those you get a heavy dose of Arsenic? Arsenic would otherwise be known as literal “rat poison”. Or Cadmium‚ which is a heavy metal. Or Lead! You know how we can no longer use lead-based-paint or leaded gasoline because of how toxic it is to humans? What if the big companies had been putting it in your spices all along and you didn’t even know? What if one of the reasons you constantly feel tired‚ slow and unmotivated is because you’re slowly being poisoned by what you eat? It’s a Red Alert situation‚ and I’m here to not only give you the bad news but also to give you a solution! I never like to leave you with only the bad news‚ so keep reading and I’ll give you the solution to fix this for yourself and your family. Check this out: "The analysis found that roughly one-third of the tested products (40) had 'high enough levels of arsenic‚ lead‚ and cadmium combined… to pose a health concern for children'… and adults." Holy crap. Spice companies are literally poisoning Americans!https://t.co/FoEbMCtW7x — Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) March 26‚ 2023 Literally poisoning Americans: "Lead‚ arsenic‚ and cadmium can increase the risk of cancer‚ cognitive and reproductive problems‚ and other adverse conditions—even in small amounts. Exposure puts children at risk for lowered IQ‚ behavioral problems (such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)‚ Type 2… — Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) March 26‚ 2023 Maybe you’re not just tired‚ maybe you’re being slowly poisoned like that one episode of Dateline I saw where the woman poisoned her husband by feeding him small doses of antifreeze each day for a whole year. Anyone else see that episode? Except the wife is played by the Big Consumer Goods Companies that hate you and you’re the dying husband. Sorry folks‚ I’m not making this stuff up‚ I’m just reporting the news. According to this report‚ OVER ONE-THIRD of 126 large big-brand products tested had EXCESSIVE heavy metal levels: No I’m not saying heavy metals are excessive in all your store bought spices‚ I’m saying over a third of 126 varied brands products tested have excessive heavy metals levels. pic.twitter.com/rBrqD5XvMd — Whip (@WhipSpoon) April 1‚ 2023 FOUR Lawsuits have been filed already: Four lawsuits have been filed over the last two years over significant levels of #toxic #HeavyMetals in big brand names of #herbs and #spices. An analysis by Consumer Reports (CR) in 2021 detailed the problem. https://t.co/ooFp6MuIec — Epoch Health (@EpochHealth1) March 26‚ 2023 From Popular Mechanics: In new research‚ Consumer Reports tested a total of 126 products from stores like Walmart and Trader Joe’s and found that 40 “had high enough levels of arsenic‚ lead‚ and cadmium combined‚ on average‚ to pose a health concern for children when regularly consumed in typical serving sizes.” Beyond big-brand names like McCormick and private labels‚ the offenders also include spices and herbs from the beloved Wauwatosa‚ Wisconsin-based brand Penzeys. It’s important to note that there is no safe amount of lead‚ especially for children. That’s because our bodies don’t have a way to digest heavy metals‚ so they can easily accumulate in the body‚ physically interfering with other processes. (Remember when Entourage’s Jeremy Piven blamed a public outburst on mercury poisoning because he’d been subsisting on only sushi?) “In children‚ [lead] can affect brain development‚ increasing the risk for behavioral problems and lower IQ‚” Consumer Reports explains in the report‚ published last month. “In adults‚ it can contribute to central nervous system problems‚ reproductive problems‚ and hypertension‚ and can damage kidney and immune function.” Lead in foodstuffs is usually tested through a standard protocol laid out by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)‚ known colloquially as “EAM 4.7.” EAM stands for Elemental Analysis Manual for Food and Related Products. “This resource serves as a reference‚ for analysts at the FDA and around the world‚ providing not only general analytical information and procedures and detailed laboratory methods‚ but also helpful notes from analysts’ experiences using these methods‚” the FDA explains online. In this testing‚ an acid chemically “digests” foods before they’re fed through a mass spectrometer machine that identifies the chemical signatures of different elements. Which Herbs and Spices Contained High Levels of Lead? Consumer Reports tested a total of 126 products across 38 brands‚ using two or three samples for each product. They ranked products from least to most concerning with the following system: no concern‚ some concern‚ moderate concern‚ and high concern. Here are the products that ranked as moderate or high concern: La Flor Ground Oregano La Flor Ground Turmeric Happy Belly (Amazon) Ground Thyme Spice Islands Sweet Basil Tone’s Ground Thyme And from Consumer Reports: Roughly one-third of the tested products‚ 40 in total‚ had high enough levels of arsenic‚ lead‚ and cadmium combined‚ on average‚ to pose a health concern for children when regularly consumed in typical serving sizes. Most raised concern for adults‚ too. For two herbs‚ thyme and oregano‚ all the products we tested had levels that CR experts say are concerning. In 31 products‚ levels of lead were so high that they exceeded the maximum amount anyone should have in a day‚ according to CR’s experts. When people think about heavy metals in their diet it’s probably the lead in their drinking water. But our tests show that dried herbs and spices can be a surprising‚ and worrisome‚ source. Also troubling: There was no single predictor of which products contained higher levels of heavy metals—for example‚ brand name didn’t matter‚ and neither did “organic” or “packed in USA” claims. Now‚ as I promised….let’s talk solutions. I NEVER leave you with just the problem. You know I’ve got the solution! In fact‚ this is EXACTLY why I started my new Mission back in February. The new mission is simply this: to help build out the Parallel-Economy. Because here’s what I realized… You THINK you have a choice between all these companies listed below in the circle‚ but what most people don’t realize is they’re all owned by only 11 companies.   11. Interesting number. Will probably be even less than that in the future when these merge even further. It’s an ILLUSION of choice. The same goes for all your media… It’s just an ILLUSION of different choices‚ but owned by these 6 companies: Now back to my Mission and my solution. I figured I would eventually need to build a Parallel-Economy from the ground up. I knew that would be a ton of work. So it was on my back-burner. In fact‚ it had been there on my back-burner since about 2016. Until suddenly‚ in January of 2023‚ I connected with a company I had never heard of before….but they’re MASSIVE. They’ve been in business for over 35 years and they’re a VERY pro-American‚ pro-Liberty‚ pro-Conservative values company! They’re an American based‚ Made-In-America‚ warehoused-in-America‚ shipped-from-America company! In fact‚ they’re the last private‚ family-owned‚ pro-American consumer goods company left in America NOT owned by those 11 companies I showed you above. Oh‚ and what if I told you the products are BETTER and often CHEAPER than what you get from those 11 companies above? Yes‚ for real. And their founder was once placed on Barack Hussein Obama’s list of the Top 10 most “Dangerous Conservatives” in America? (a list I one day hope to make myself!) Once I learned all of that‚ I knew I no longer had to build this from the ground-up by myself‚ I simply needed to partner with this awesome company to help them get the word out. So on top of being the last Family-owned major consumer goods manufacturer not part of the Big-11‚ comparable or often lower prices‚ supporting American jobs and families‚ here’s the part that ties in to the main point of this article”. Non-toxic products! That means no Arsenic‚ Cadmium‚ and Lead in their Spices! Which really‚ if we’re being honest‚ should be the bare minimum for everyone‚ right? Stunning I even have to tell you that‚ but I guess I do! But it also means no Red Dye 40 or flouride in the toothpaste or chemicals in the cleaning products‚ or Deet in the mosquito repellant. What novel concepts‚ right? Oh‚ and Black Angus beef‚ pasture raised on hundreds of thousands of acres. Free roaming with plenty of open air between all the cattle. Grass fed. No hormones and no antibiotics.  Never! Oh‚ and it’s CHEAPER than Omaha Steaks! But that’s a whole other topic! Sound good to anyone else? Me too! The reason you’ve never heard of them is because it’s Invite Only. I can get you in‚ but you can’t just go sign up. They only want people on the same mission to join and they’re happy to say “no” to the Far-Left Libs! They’ve been doing it for 37 years and it’s been working great. Everyone gets a personal‚ white glove‚ concierge customer service support to get you access to everything they have. Imagine that! No call centers from India. Just real‚ friendly‚ helpful and NICE Americans helping Americans! Wow‚ like going back in a time-machine. So it is Invite only…and good thing you know someone that has the invites….(me!). If you’d like to find out more and get a FREE personal invite‚ just go here and tell them Noah sent you:  https://FedUpSwitch.com It’s the real deal‚ and because they don’t raise the Black Angus like the big companies do‚ they may have the SHUT OFF invites if they grow too fast. So if you want in‚ let me know soon. There’s only one pro-American‚ American made and manufactured‚ chemical free‚ toxin free‚ hormone free‚ company left….and I’m teaming up with them to FIGHT BACK! Who’s with me? Watch this: Ready to join us? Now 130‚000 people and counting strong! GO HERE: https://t.co/WeCSXGZQEH pic.twitter.com/5JtDvrOgFl — DailyNoah.com (@DailyNoahNews) December 14‚ 2023 As I said‚ it’s Invite Only and the invite is completely free! In fact‚ I’ve assembled a team of patriots who will personally get you invited and signed up….if you want in. Americans Helping Americans. Patriots Helping Patriots. It’s called “Patriot Switch” and I think the name says it all. Folks‚ we don’t have many strongholds left. This is one. And I’m all in. If you’d like to find out more and get a FREE personal invite‚ just go here:  https://FedUpSwitch.com Tell them Noah sent you and I promise you will get a personal call‚ text or email. Don’t freak out when you do. And make sure you tell them you are interested in the Black Angus beef too! I know I tend to get concerned when I get messages from numbers I don’t recognize‚ but if you request a Free Invite (Link here: https://FedUpSwitch.com) you WILL have someone from my Inner Circle reach out to you….so be ready! These are awesome people and I think you’ll love getting a chance to talk with them. And they’ll help get you all set up. Who’s with me and who’s ready to stop eating Arsenic‚ Cadmium‚ and Lead? Your friend‚ – Noah p.s. Since everyone gets personal attention‚ we will take these in the order in which they come in.  So if you are excited‚ ask for your invite now or you might be far down on the list.  I have a great team‚ but they can only do so much and they’ll work on a first-come‚ first-served basis. Request a free Invite here:  https://FedUpSwitch.com

Some of America’s most recognizable food brands have achieved their success on the backs of prisoners at corrections facilities throughout the nation. Article by Ethan Huff‚ republished with permission from Naturalnews.com While many of us associate forced labor camps with countries like Russia‚ prison labor plays a significant role in the journey from farm to table for much of the U.S.’s food supply. The Louisiana State Penitentiary‚ which was once a Southern slave plantation and is now the country’s biggest maximum-security prison‚ is supplying big names like Walmart‚ McDonald’s and Cargill with meat via prison-raised cattle‚ according to a two-year investigation by the Associated Press. This isn’t just an isolated case; the AP reports that similar “invisible webs” tie prison labor to hundreds of millions of dollars of agricultural products and other goods sold in the U.S. They report that it is not unusual for prisoners to be sentenced to hard labor‚ and those who refuse to work could face punishments like solitary confinement or even risk losing parole opportunities. The AP identifies a number of popular food items that are produced by prisoners‚ from Ball Park hot dogs to Frosted Flakes cereal‚ Coca-Cola and Gold Medal flour. Their products can be found in stores like Whole Foods‚ Target and Kroger. In some cases‚ they are exported to other countries‚ including those whose own products have been blocked from entering America because of their use of prison labor. One prisoner‚ Willie Ingram‚ told the AP about his experience picking okra and cotton on the prison’s farm – on the plantation soil where slaves did the same thing decades ago – during his 51 years behind bars in the Louisiana State Penitentiary. The penitentiary houses 3‚800 men‚ more than two thirds of whom are black‚ and they work for free but can later earn somewhere between 2 and 40 cents per hour in some cases. He explained how armed guards on horseback watched as dehydrated prisoners passed out while working in the fields in triple-digit temperatures. The AP traced almost $200 million in sales of livestock and farmed goods to businesses from prison labor‚ although they say this data is incomplete and the real number may be higher. Prison laborers do not have worker protections Some corrections officials told the AP that not all prison labor is forced and that it can save taxpayers in some cases‚ such as when the prisoners are producing the food that is served in their kitchens. Moreover‚ they say that prisoners are learning useful skills that can help them find employment when they are released and provides them with an important sense of purpose. However‚ critics maintain that prison laborers deserve fair pay‚ more humane treatment‚ and the option to choose not to work. Many of them do not have protections traditional workers do‚ such as workers’ compensation and coverage by federal safety standards‚ nor do they have recourse when subjected to poor working conditions. The AP spoke to dozens of current and former prisoners who did this type of work after being convicted of crimes ranging from writing bad checks to murder. Some claim being injured on the job‚ while others were subjected to sexual harassment. Others‚ like Frank Dwayne Ellington‚ died on the job. Ellington was sucked inside a machine in a chicken processing plant‚ and in his family’s legal battle with Koch Foods‚ the company claimed he wasn’t technically an employee. AP contacted some of the companies about the links between their supply chains and prison labor‚ but many of them denied there was a connection. McDonald’s said it would look into it‚ while General Mills said that it has a policy restricting its suppliers from using forced labor. Many Americans are not aware of the connection their everyday foods have to prison labor. Although many people are not opposed to the concept of putting prisoners to work in theory‚ transparency about which brands are relying on this type of labor and the working conditions is lacking. In addition to working on vast farms‚ hundreds of prisons around the country have prisoners doing jobs like fish farming‚ beekeeping‚ raising livestock‚ landscaping and tending greenhouses without workers’ protections – and often without pay. Sources for this article include: APNews.com Blacklisted.news RELATED: Is It Time To “Make The Switch”? Let Me Explain… Is it time to stop supporting Far-Left Woke Companies‚ Stores and Products? I’m not big on “boycotts” but I am big on taking back our power and “voting with our dollars”. Why do we continue to support places like Target when they constantly push the Gay and Trans agenda down our throats and onto our children? I could give you hundreds of examples‚ but remember this? Target Hires “Pride Strategist” Who Vows To “Make Trouble” Or this? Target Under Heavy Fire: “Satan Respects Pronouns” Just two examples. Or how about shopping at stores so poorly ran so scared of their customers that they place socks and under behind glass doors with lock and key? Shoplifting Wave Drives Walmart‚ Target To Take Unprecedented Step — 40 Minute Wait Times For Underwear! Are you a customer or a suspected criminal? Truth be told‚ the stores are overrun by crime thanks for Far-Left Cities legalizing shoplifting. Or how about when Gillette told all us men we had "toxic masculinity"? Yeah‚ that was charming! Thanks Gillette! Of course we all remember Bud Light giving us trans male (or is it trans female‚ I can never remember which way it goes) Dylan Mulvaney as their new face of the brand? But that's just the social issues side of things.... How about the products themselves? Well‚ I sure hope you didn't put any of this J&;J talc powder on your baby: J&;J Enters $9 BILLION Baby Cancer Settlement — How To Keep Your Family SAFE! And I hope you don't have any of these spices in your kitchen: BREAKING: Arsenic‚ Cadmium‚ and Lead Found In Major Brand Name Spices! Or any of these baby food pouches: Recall Alert: Popular Baby Fruit Pouch Contains Lead Look‚ I could go on all day‚ but I think you get the idea. And as usual‚ I don't like to just leave you with a problem....that's not what we do here. So I have a question for you:  Perhaps it's time to break up with these companies? But what other options are there? You know I've got you covered! How about this.... How about shopping from a company that actually likes you! Where everything just gets delivered right to your door...no driving to the store‚ fighting for a parking spot‚ standing in long lines‚ dealing with rude employees....and nothing is placed behind glass doors with lock and key! By a company that has a 40-year track record of doing things right... A 40-year track record of being proudly America-First‚ way before President Trump hit the scene in 2015... Not only America First but made‚ sourced‚ warehoused and shipped all from America!  For 40 years and counting! Oh‚ and 100% non-toxic! No Flouride (if you don't want it)‚ no Red Dye 3 or 40‚ no Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) in any cosmetics product.... Got a problem?  One phone call to their US-based customer service where everything is actually helpful (cheery‚ even) and they are happy to help you out‚ almost as if they like you! Gee‚ what a novel concept! It's time to Make The Switch folks....stop supporting Target and WalMart. Stop buying products that are hazardous to your health with so many additives and chemicals in them that you can't even pronounce half the label. You THINK you have a choice between all these companies listed below in the circle‚ but what most people don't realize is they're all owned by only 11 companies.   11. Interesting number. Will probably be even less than that in the future when these merge even further. It's an ILLUSION of choice. The same goes for all your media... It's just an ILLUSION of different choices‚ but owned by these 6 companies: Oh and how do you think they got to be such a great America-First company with such a long track record of success? A strong founder‚ full of vision and drive. While you may have never heard of this company (because they do ZERO advertising)‚ Barack Hussein Obama knew about them! In fact‚ when he was in office‚ he created a list of the Top 10 most "Dangerous Conservatives" in America and he placed their Founder on it as #8! (a list I one day hope to make myself!) As I said‚ they do zero advertising -- they rely on people like me to spread the word.  Good old word of mouth! So on top of being the last Family-owned major consumer goods manufacturer not part of the Big-11‚ comparable or often lower prices‚ supporting American jobs and families‚ here's more: Non-toxic products! That means no Arsenic‚ Cadmium‚ and Lead in their food products! Which really‚ if we're being honest‚ should be the bare minimum for everyone‚ right? Stunning I even have to tell you that‚ but I guess I do! But it also means no Red Dye 40 or Flouride in the toothpaste or chemicals in the cleaning products‚ or Deet in the mosquito repellant. What novel concepts‚ right? Oh‚ and Black Angus beef‚ pasture raised on hundreds of thousands of acres. Free roaming with plenty of open air between all the cattle. Grass fed. No hormones and no antibiotics.  Never! Oh‚ and it's CHEAPER than Omaha Steaks! And....they control the ENTIRE process from the cows grazing in the pasture to eventually ending up in your freezer. But that's a whole other topic! Not only do they do zero advertising but it's it's actually "Invite Only". They only want people on the same mission to join and they're happy to say "no" to the Far-Left Libs! They've been doing it for nearly 40 years and it's been working great. Everyone gets a personal‚ white glove‚ concierge customer service support to get you access to everything they have. Imagine that! No call centers from India. Just real‚ friendly‚ helpful and NICE Americans helping Americans! Wow‚ like going back in a time-machine. So it is Invite only...and good thing you know someone that has the invites....(me!). If you'd like to find out more and get a FREE personal invite‚ just go here and tell them Noah sent you:  https://SwitchWithNoah.com It's the real deal‚ and because they don't raise the Black Angus like the big companies do‚ they may have the SHUT OFF invites if they grow too fast. So if you want in‚ let me know soon. There's only one pro-American‚ American made and manufactured‚ chemical free‚ toxin free‚ hormone free‚ company left....and I'm teaming up with them to FIGHT BACK! Who's with me? Watch this:   Time to make the switch..... It's INVITE ONLY‚ jump on the list here 👉 https://t.co/0HBTcCFOyQ pic.twitter.com/HTbHs1ZW7f — DailyNoah.com (@DailyNoahNews) December 5‚ 2023 As I said‚ it's Invite Only and the invite is completely free! In fact‚ I've assembled a team of patriots who will personally get you invited and signed up....if you want in. Americans Helping Americans. Patriots Helping Patriots. It's called "Patriot Switch" and I think the name says it all. Folks‚ we don't have many strongholds left. This is one. And I'm all in. If you'd like to find out more and get a FREE personal invite‚ just go here:  https://SwitchWithNoah.com Tell them Noah sent you and I promise you will get a personal call‚ text or email. Don't freak out when you do. And make sure you tell them you are interested in the Black Angus beef too! I know I tend to get concerned when I get messages from numbers I don't recognize‚ but if you request a Free Invite (Link here) you WILL have someone from my Inner Circle reach out to you....so be ready! These are awesome people and I think you'll love getting a chance to talk with them. And they'll help get you all set up. Who's with me and who's ready to stop eating Arsenic‚ Cadmium‚ and Lead? Your friend‚ - Noah p.s. Since everyone gets personal attention‚ we will take these in the order in which they come in.  So if you are excited‚ ask for your invite now or you might be far down on the list.  I have a great team‚ but they can only do so much and they'll work on a first-come‚ first-served basis. Request a free Invite here Cheers!

Joe Biden’s corrupt government has made it clear that they have no problem labeling regular Americans as “domestic terrorists‚” even if the suspects in question are simply concerned parents who want to know what their children are learning in school or even God-fearing US citizens peacefully protesting election results. For that matter‚ Biden’s federal government has also had no issue pushing Big Brother legislation in the vein of George Orwell’s “1984‚” as the administration threw its support behind the renewal of a surveillance state law over the summer. The law‚ Section 702‚ would continue to allow the NSA’s wiretapping and data collection on U.S. soil and abroad for the “alleged” purpose of monitoring for foreign terrorist threats and espionage. Or even more recently‚ it was uncovered that Biden’s corrupt government asked banks to search certain Americans’ records for words like “MAGA” and “Trump”‚ along with gun and bible purchases—a clear violation and disrespect of fundamental civil liberties. Most Americans‚ or at least conservatives that are being targeted‚ take extreme offense to this type of state and federal overreach— as they should. However‚ at the same time‚ it can be difficult to communicate without using mainstream technologies. For Americans who are concerned with the government’s increasingly ironclad grip on domestic communication channels‚  Freedom Chat is the first step toward taking back freedom and privacy in everyday life. Freedom Chat is a one-of-a-kind‚ conservative-based messaging app that protects the privacy rights of its users by providing unrivaled features that can be found nowhere else. Click here to try free app Freedom Chat today. Why is it free? It’s free for the first 50 messages you send‚ so you can try it without obligation. If you want to send more than 50 messages in a month‚ it’s only $2.95 for unlimited use. How is it so cheap for unlimited messages? Freedom Chat doesn’t store your messages – which means storage costs are low. Other messaging platforms pay millions to store messages – Freedom Chat doesn’t. The app is uniquely positioned to shield law-abiding Americans from the unnecessary prying eyes of federal and state governments by offering verifiable end-to-end encryption‚ not storing user messages on their servers‚ and having no commercial use of user data. This means that unlike other messaging or social apps‚ Freedom Chat won’t be selling users’ information to third parties to make a quick buck. User data may include personal images‚ videos‚ shopping habits‚ political affiliations‚ who you talked to and when‚ and much more. Freedom Chat has hammered home their commitment to privacy by publishing a 20-page white paper that details their security protocols like which algorithms they use‚ as well as a step-by-step encryption analysis with snippets of their codebase. There’s no doubt that some of today’s biggest text-leak headline controversies among conservatives like President Trump and even Tucker Carlson could have been dodged if they had been using an app like Freedom Chat. The app provides users with the ability to edit‚ unsend‚ and utilize self-destructing messages as well as the ability to disable their camera and microphone via “Sensors Off”. Perhaps most impressive is Screenshot Protect that when enabled‚ disables the ability for other users to take a screenshot of the chat. For example‚ if you were to send someone a private message‚ image‚ or video and they were to attempt to take a screenshot of the conversation‚ nothing more than a blank white screen would be captured. Users will also be alerted if a screenshot is attempted. To see exactly how Freedom chat works‚ watch this: Freedom Chat has been endorsed by conservative radio personality‚ former California Republican gubernatorial candidate‚ Larry Elder. Elder recently strongly endorsed President Trump in his 2024 reelection bid ahead of the rapidly approaching Republican primary race and even met with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago. With wonky and woke big tech and the corrupt government odiously peeking over the shoulder of conservative Americans’ private conversations‚ Freedom Chat provides a safe and dependable alternative to the prying eyes of Orwellian authorities. Take back your God-given right to privacy and free speech by downloading the app today for free. (Note: Thank you for supporting businesses like the one presenting a sponsored message in this article and ordering through the links below‚ which benefits WLTReport. We appreciate your support and we are proud to bring you awesome new companies like this one that we love using!)

A.F. Branco Cartoon – ERA would create a ‘blank check’ to discriminate against people of faith‚ expert warns ERA would create ‘blank check’ to discriminate against people of faith‚ expert warns. The proposed amendment does not include any protections against religious discrimination. By  Luke Sprinkel February 16‚ 2024 The Minnesota Queer Caucus held a press conference Thursday to reaffirm their support for the so-called “Equal Rights Amendment” (ERA). Attempting to enshrine abortion and gender identity into Minnesota’s constitution‚ the ERA is a major priority for the Democratic majorities in Minnesota’s state legislature. “We are going to pass the most inclusive‚ comprehensive ERA off the floor that we can this year‚” said Rep. Leigh Finke‚ a transgender legislator and chair of the Queer Caucus. READ MORE…   DONATE to A.F. Branco Cartoons – Tips accepted and appreciated – $1.00 – $5.00 – $25.00 – $50.00 – it all helps to fund this website and keep the cartoons coming. Also Venmo @AFBranco – THANK YOU! A.F. Branco has taken his two greatest passions (art and politics) and translated them into cartoons that have been popular all over the country in various news outlets‚ including NewsMax‚ Fox News‚ MSNBC‚ CBS‚ ABC‚ and “The Washington Post.” He has been recognized by such personalities as Rep. Devin Nunes‚ Dinesh D’Souza‚ James Woods‚ Chris Salcedo‚ Sarah Palin‚ Larry Elder‚ Lars Larson‚ Rush Limbaugh‚ and President Trump