Television has never been as popular as it is today. A post-pandemic world has left viewers salivating for binge-worthy shows‚ and lots of them. In many modern series‚ episodic storytelling has replaced a single story arc per season. An often heartbreaking consequence of these longer and more profound stories is that some characters don’t make […] The post The Ten Most Shocking and Horrific Television Murders Ever appeared first on Listverse.

Humans have a long history of trying to predict when and how the world will end. While many predictions that failed to come true are widely known‚ such as Y2K and 2012‚ the reactions of the people who really believed in them are not‚ except for a few cases of doomsday cults. But cult members […] The post 10 Ways People Reacted When They Thought the World Was Ending appeared first on Listverse.

Editor’s note: This is the first podcast interview in a series on transgender phenomena‚ science‚ and the potential for medical malpractice lawsuits. Studies have suggested that the number of young people who identify as transgender has exploded in recent years. While activists claim that these people are just discovering a latent truth suppressed by society‚ some scientists have set out to question what lies behind a phenomenon they term “rapid-onset gender dysphoria.” Leor Sapir‚ a fellow at the Manhattan Institute‚ has worked with Lisa Littman‚ a doctor who first coined the term rapid-onset gender dysphoria and laid out her hypothesis in the medical journal PLOS One. Sapir joins “The Daily Signal Podcast” to break down what ROGD is‚ why some activist scientists have failed to disprove it‚ and what he and Littman have done to advance the theory. “Gender dysphoria” refers to the condition of persistently and painfully identifying with the gender different from one’s biological sex‚ and “rapid-onset gender dysphoria” refers to a new‚ third form of gender dysphoria. Current literature recognizes adult and childhood gender dysphoria‚ but ROGD refers to a form of gender dysphoria that often emerges in adolescence and may be a social contagion. Sapir explains that the phenomenon emerges among “adolescents who do not have a childhood history of gender nonconformity or gender distress or issues with their sex.” These people “don’t have issues with being boys or girls‚ and these problems seem to develop only in adolescence.” “They have co-occurring mental health problems‚ anxiety‚ depression‚ autism‚ [obsessive compulsive disorder]‚ eating disorders‚ history of trauma‚ you name it‚” he adds. “They are predominantly‚ although not exclusively‚ but predominantly female‚ right‚ and they belong to peer groups where some of them are male or female. The kids come out as trans in clusters.” Sapir describes these facets as “indicators of symptoms” that have emerged “in the medical literature in the last few years.” He does not claim that ROGD is “settled science‚” but he insists that it is a scientifically rigorous hypothesis to explain the jump in transgender-identifying youth in the past few years. The hypothesis suggests that therapy‚ rather than invasive medical interventions often referred to as “gender-affirming care‚” might be the proper path forward for youth who struggle with gender-identity issues. Sapir and Littman recently defended the ROGD hypothesis against an attack from Dr. Jack Turban‚ an assistant professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of California at San Francisco. Turban and others published a January 2023 study in the Journal of Adolescent Health claiming to debunk ROGD by analyzing the U.S. Transgender Survey of 2015. Sapir and Littman responded with a December letter to the editor in Archives of Sexual Behavior and in an article on Sapir’s substack‚ Reality’s Last Stand. Sapir tells “The Daily Signal Podcast” that Turban didn’t come close to disproving the ROGD hypothesis‚ and he explains how Turban tried to manipulate the data to suggest that people cannot get rapid-onset gender dysphoria because transgender people do not reveal their identities right away‚ but keep them secret for years. “They did a lot of gymnastics” to suggest that teens today do not have rapid-onset gender dysphoria‚ Sapir explains. Sapir says the 2015 study asked people who identify as transgender three questions: (1) at what age did you start to feel that your gender was different from your sex?; (2) at what age did you begin to feel that you were trans‚ even if you didn’t have a word to articulate it?; and (3) at what age did you disclose a trans identity to a family member or somebody else in your life? Rather than relying on question No. 2 as a proxy for when people realized they were transgender‚ Turban chose question No. 1. Sapir says that question is more subject to “recall bias‚” when a person reinterprets a memory of feeling a certain way early on‚ in order to reaffirm their identity and choices in the present. “So‚ why wouldn’t Turban use question No. 2?” Sapir asks. “Well‚ we dug down into the data. We did some analysis‚ and it turns out if he had used question No. 2‚ the median time from realization to disclosure would have been one year‚ and a one-year time from realization to disclosure supports the ROGD hypothesis.” Yet the biggest problem with Turban’s analysis is timing‚ the Manhattan Institute fellow says. The ROGD hypothesis is “that this phenomena really started to emerge in the late 2000s and picked up speed in the 2010s‚” Sapir notes. “The sample‚ a survey of adults from 2015‚ cannot possibly pick up on ROGD phenomena if that’s what Turban and his colleagues are trying to investigate.” Furthermore‚ the survey only includes adults who currently identified as transgender‚ not anyone who stopped identifying as transgender‚ he explains‚ and Turban and his co-authors have no control group to compare with the survey. Sapir admits that it is unlikely researchers are “going to get a study that will definitively resolve the ROGD debate.” Yet‚ he predicts that “we are going to have piecemeal evidence that comes out as a trickle confirming aspects of the ROGD hypothesis.” He emphasizes that the burden of proof rests with those who advocate for experimental transgender medical interventions‚ not with critics who study ROGD. “Because what’s riding on this debate is the legitimacy of a medical intervention that can cause severe‚ irreversible lifelong harm and suffering‚ the burden of proof here is on those arguing that anybody who says‚ ‘I’m trans‚’ is eligible for medical intervention. They face the burden of proof‚ not us‚” Sapir adds. Listen to the podcast interview below. Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state. The post Transgender Series‚ Part 1: What Is Rapid-Onset Gender Dysphoria and Why Does It Matter? appeared first on The Daily Signal.

FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL: The National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC) is taking aim at Oreo for partnering with an organization promoting a “militant LGBTQ agenda.” The NPLC will release a video Wednesday that begins by citing the names of infamous books on gender and sexuality that have been marketed to young people in public libraries and schools. “‘This Book Is Gay‚'” the video narrates. “‘Gender Queer.’ ‘Flamer.’ ‘Lawn Boy.’ Books like these are promoted in our schools and local libraries by PLFAG‚ and Oreo is supporting them.” PFLAG is an LGBT advocacy organization. “Is your favorite sandwich cookie company grooming children?” the video asks. “What happened to the kid friendly cookie we all used to know and love? Don’t let PFLAG and Oreo corrupt your children. Learn more at NLPC.org/oreo.” Paul Chesser‚ the director of the Corporate Integrity Project at the NPLC‚ told The Daily Signal that the NPLC has stock in Mondelez International‚ the parent company of Oreo. As the NPLC monitored the company’s activities‚ Chesser noticed that Oreo’s Twitter account was doing a lot of co-promotional content with PFLAG. In many of these posts‚ Oreo praises PFLAG as a “long-time” partner‚ celebrates Pride Month‚ and promotes gender ideology. On closer examination‚ Chesser realized that Oreo was sponsoring the 2023 PLFAG National Convention. That convention’s focus was “Learning with Love‚” and its opening session was: “Let Freedom Read! Read with Love to Support Inclusive Books and Education‚” pushing back on the banning of explicit books‚ according to NLPC. “PFLAG and [the American Library Association] also co-sponsored ‘Banned Books Week‘ earlier this month‚ which included ‘Let Freedom Read Day‘ to promote grassroots action with lawmakers and decision-makers to allow adult-themed materials into school libraries‚” the NLPC said on its website. We're celebrating our longtime partnership with @pflag‚ who turns 50 this year. Thanks for your iconic work and for helping us all to be better allies ensuring that every LGBTQ+ person is safe‚ celebrated‚ empowered‚ and loved ? pic.twitter.com/BGNotqNKOg— OREO Cookie (@Oreo) June 21‚ 2023 “Among its events and materials for Banned Books Week‚ PFLAG made a list of the Top 13 Most Banned Books‚’ which include the titles ‘Gender Queer‚’ ‘All Boys Aren’t Blue‚’ ‘Flamer‚’ ‘Lawn Boy‚’ and ‘This Book is Gay‚'” the NPLC noted. Multiple of these books contain explicit sexual content and gender ideology discussions. “As watchdogs of corporate American‚ we believe that companies should not be engaged and involved in these divisive political issues‚ these social issues‚ they should be as neutral as possible‚” Chesser explained. “When you get involved in a lot this militant activity‚ it’s problematic. You’re going to tick off at least half of your potential customers.” Coming out doesn’t happen just once. It’s a journey that needs love and courage every step of the way. Share our new film ? and let someone know you’re their #LifelongAlly. pic.twitter.com/S5ipPxZRON— OREO Cookie (@Oreo) April 4‚ 2022 NLPC’s campaign includes a website page dedicated to Oreo’s partnership with PLFAG‚ where it reveals that it is sponsoring a shareholder proposal challenging Mondelez International’s company executive and board of directors and asking the board to “examine its associations with controversial external groups such as PFLAG to determine whether they present a significant risk to the health and profitability of the company.” “Parents across the United States have become increasingly fed up with the political activism and gender ideology agenda – especially those targeting children – of militant LGBTQ pressure groups such as GLAAD‚ GLSEN‚ Human Rights Campaign‚ and The Trevor Project‚ among many others‚” that landing page notes‚ critiquing activist groups for targeting children with “Drag Queen Story Hour” events and stirring up confusion about sex with terms like “identity” and “fluidity.” “Among the organizations pressing this agenda is PFLAG (formerly Parents &; Friends of Lesbians and Gays)‚” the NLPC shares. “Begun with noble intentions as a support for families of gay individuals‚ the group over time developed a more militant activist intent with expansionist strategies. The nonprofit organization takes in several million dollars annually to support its lobbying‚ recruitment‚ electoral advocacy‚ issue advocacy‚ and gender vocabulary activism.” The NLPC specifically hits at PFLAG for pushing gender ideology on children in ways that parents may not be aware of‚ such as pushing for explicit gender books in school libraries or lobbying against laws that would protect children from transgender medical procedures and interventions. “Should a brand so identified with children also be so deeply intertwined with the aggressive promotion of the LGBTQ tactics and agenda of militant groups like PFLAG?” the NLPC asks. “What business does a sandwich cookie have being involved in the promotion of explicit materials where they are easily accessible to children‚ without their parents’ knowledge? And with those who would promote transgender ideology to minors outside of their parents’ consent?” Oreo and Mondelez did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Daily Signal. Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com‚ and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state. The post EXCLUSIVE: Campaign Highlights Oreo’s Partnership With ‘Militant’ LGBTQ Group appeared first on The Daily Signal.

The Nevada state Republican Primary decided that delegates will be apportioned only from the state’s caucus‚ which will be held Thursday.

A gold ring from the 11th or 12th century with an unusual two-faced design has been discovered at Wawel Royal Castle in Kraków. The top of the ring is widened and flattened. It is engraved with two anthropomorphic figures‚ faces looking away from each other. This is the only example ever discovered of an early medieval Polish ring decorated with figural representations‚ let alone human faces. The few gold rings from the period that have been found in Poland are either undecorated or ornamented with simple geometric designs. The ring is 1.5mm thick‚ 4mm in diameter with a circumference of 57mm. The bottom of the band is broken‚ but there does not appear to have been a great deal of gold lost. The overall shape and style of the ring is typical of this area of Poland‚ so it was likely produced locally for an elite member of the Piast dynasty court. The royal castle on Wawel Hill towers over the historic center of Kraków. The earliest royal residence at the site was built by Mieszko I (r. ca. 960–992)‚ the first king of Poland. He converted to Christianity in 966 and eight years after his death the first cathedral in Poland was built next to the royal castle on Wawel Hill. Polish kings would be crowned and buried there for centuries. The early medieval castle was greatly expanded and modernized into a splendid Renaissance palace by the Jagiellonian dynasty kings (Alexander I‚ Sigismund I the Old and Sigismund II Augustus) of the 16th century. The court was moved from Kraków to Warsaw in 1609 and Wawel Castle fell into a slow decline that was violently sped up when it was sacked by Swedish troops during the Deluge campaigns (1648-1667). Come the partitions of Poland in the late 18th century‚ the devastated castle was repurposed as an army barracks for Austrian troops. Poland reclaimed it with its own independence in 1918 when it served both as residence for the head of state and as a museum. The gold ring was discovered during an archaeological excavation under the Danish Tower‚ a residential tower on the east wing of the castle built in the late 14th century‚ but the ring predates construction of the tower. It was in the archaeological layer on top of the remains of an older stone structure that may have been a defensive rampart. The ring will now undergo metal analysis that may provide more data about the composition and origin of the gold. When the scientific research is complete‚ the ring will go on display.

The drone fired by Iranian-backed terrorists that killed three U.S. soldiers and injured dozens of others on Jan. 28 in Jordan likely went undetected by U.S. forces

Former MMA fighter Gina Carano‚ the former star of "The Mandalorian‚" has launched a lawsuit Tuesday against Disney and Lucasfilm‚ alleging discrimination and wrongful termination.

Rep. Ken Buck‚ R-Colo.‚ one of four House Republicans to vote against impeaching Department of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas‚ said he's incompetent and likely one of the worst Cabinet officials ever‚ but that doesn't equate to a high crime or misdemeanor.

Cornell veterinarians discovered a puppy whose jaw they had surgically removed because of a cancerous tumor had regrown it just eight weeks after the operation.