This is a story about something really exciting.Before I get into it‚ let me set the stage by explaining the terrible problem it's solving.10 years.That's how long it'll be until the last wild elephants and rhinoceroses are gone.100 of them are killed every day by poachers.Even though elephants and rhinos are legally protected‚ the amount of money that can be made from the ivory in their tusks is just too much for some people to resist.So poachers go after elephants and rhinos in secret. They kill them in out-of-the-way places that are hard to patrol‚ and they do it at night under the cover of darkness.Every hour‚ another elephant or rhino family is broken forever.Now the Lindbergh Foundation has come up with an idea about how to stop poachers.They've been testing their idea for two years now‚ and it really works.Air Shepherd uses drones and computers to watch over elephants and rhinos the same way a shepherd protects his sheep.It's an amazing international‚ hi-tech system.The drones in Africa are decked out with normal and infrared cameras that see where the animals — and the poachers — are. Even in the dark of night.That imagery is sent to computers in the U.S. Using special software‚ they send back flight plans to the drones that predict where the animals are headed‚ which keeps the drones on top of the poachers.Local rangers are notified‚ and they sweep in on the poachers.During the 600 tests they've run so far‚ precisely zero poaching has occurred.It's a fantastic system.Seven African countries have already requested help.The Foundation has provided the seed money. They need contributions‚ though‚ so head over to the Air Shepherd site to see how you can get involved in this amazing project.Please let your animal-loving friends know about this breakthrough program that could keep elephants and rhinos from going extinct. It's so exciting.(Unfortunately‚ the Lindbergh Foundation's video has been removed from YouTube. But here's an NBC News report about the project.)This article originally appeared on 03.12.15

Nothing can ruin a relaxing weekend or holiday like an email from the office. Even if there's no need to take action until Monday‚ the unwanted intrusion of professional life can really suck the joy out of a Sunday afternoon barbecue.That's why the country that's famous for giving its employees 30 days off a year and 16 weeks of full-paid family leave in May 2016 made itself even cooler with its new "right to disconnect" rule.In France‚ if you're a company of 50 employees or more‚ you cannot email an employee after typical work hours. The labor law amendment has come about because studies show that in the digital age‚ it's increasingly difficult for people to distance themselves from the workplace during their off hours.This new provision allows people to get the full advantage of their time off."All the studies show there is far more work-related stress today than there used to be‚ and that the stress is constant‚" Benoit Hamon of the French National Assembly told the BBC. "Employees physically leave the office‚ but they do not leave their work. They remain attached by a kind of electronic leash — like a dog. The texts‚ the messages‚ the emails — they colonize the life of the individual to the point where he or she eventually breaks down."The rule stipulates that companies must negotiate policies that limit the spillover of work into their employees' private lives. Although there are no penalties for violations‚ companies are to establish "charters of good conduct" that specify the times which employees are free from being digitally connected to their workplaces.This right to disconnect amendment was passed as part of a controversial French labor law that some say will weaken unions and enhance employee job insecurity. The digital disconnect amendment was the one part of the law that's been viewed favorably by the French public.This article originally appeared on 11.12.17

The prophetic gem of their catalogue. The post The Eagles song Don Henley considered to be underrated first appeared on Far Out Magazine.

You'll never guess who almost played "Doc."

Former President Donald Trump is already performing well in polls against President Joe Biden; however‚ he may be stronger than realized. This is a conclusion that could be drawn from a recent poll showing independents to be a much larger share of the electorate than commonly recognized. The reason this could benefit Trump — and make polls that are underweighting independents also be underestimating Trump’s support — is because‚ right now‚ independents are breaking decidedly for Trump. READ MORE: Five Quick Things: Ted Cruz Is Spot-On and Precisely‚ Exactly Right Currently‚ there’s no shortage of evidence that Trump is beating Biden. According to RealClearPolitics’ Jan. 26 average of national polling‚ Trump leads 47.3 percent to 43 percent. Among the eight polls used for RCP’s average‚ Biden trails in them all; Trump’s current 4.3 percent margin is the largest since RCP began its averaging on Nov. 1‚ 2022; and Biden hasn’t had a lead since Sept. 11‚ 2023‚ when it was by 0.2 percentage points. As bad as this news seems for Biden‚ the real news may be even worse. The reason is revealed by a recent Gallup poll (released on Jan. 12‚ 2024) that found that “[p]olitical independents continue to constitute the largest political bloc in the U.S.‚ with an average of 43% of U.S. adults identifying this way.” That level ties the historic high recorded by Gallup in 2014. In contrast‚ both Democrats and Republicans came in much lower — both at 27 percent apiece. Findings that Americans are not terribly enthusiastic about a rematch add additional credence for Gallup’s high level of independents: More respondents could be registering their displeasure by revising their party preference to independent. If Gallup’s recent findings are correct‚ they are dramatically different from 2020 exit polling. Four years ago‚ independents made up just 26 percent of the electorate‚ while Democrats were 37 percent and Republicans 36. Such a shift from 2020 is interesting on face value‚ but it could also be very important to the state of today’s race. To understand why‚ look at another recent poll. A Messenger/Harris poll (conducted Jan. 17–21) found Trump leading Biden 48 percent to 41 percent. The two candidates’ partisan split was as follows: Trump received 90 percent of Republican support‚ 11 percent of Democrat‚ and 43 percent of independent; Biden received 4 percent of Republican support‚ 82 percent of Democrat‚ and 36 percent of independent. Trump’s 7-percentage-point advantage among independents is important in its own right. However‚ it is even more so when you look at the Messenger/Harris poll’s weighting of its partisan breakdown: 37 percent Democrat‚ 36 percent Republican‚ and 25 percent independent. This latest partisan breakdown is almost exactly that from the 2020 exit polling results. It is a logical assumption: weight the partisan breakdown of a rematch the same as the first contest. But what if Gallup’s recent results are right for today’s partisan breakdown? Then the Messenger/Harris poll — and every poll that is underweighting independents — is also underestimating Trump support. How much an effect this has can be seen by simply reweighting the Messenger/Harris poll’s partisan breakdown to Gallup’s latest findings (and keeping the Messenger/Harris poll’s same candidate preferences within the three partisan groups). The result is that Trump’s margin is 0.7 percentage points higher — giving Trump an almost 8-percentage-point lead. If you think that additional bump doesn’t matter‚ then think back again to the 2020 race. Biden already had an overlooked liability in his 2020 national polling results. In 2020‚ he won the popular vote by 4.4 percentage points. Despite this‚ he still barely eked out an electoral vote win. The reason? Biden ran up huge but meaningless vote margins in California and New York (almost 7 million in just these two states‚ while Biden’s total popular vote margin was 7‚060‚347)‚ yet the race in the Electoral College was decided by miniscule margins in six others: Arizona‚ Georgia‚ Michigan‚ Nevada‚ Pennsylvania‚ and Wisconsin. In other words‚ Biden needs to be roughly plus-4.4 percentage points in national polls to be running even with Trump. If national polls are underweighting independents (as the Gallup results say)‚ and independents are breaking decidedly for Trump (as the Messenger/Harris results say)‚ then even averaging them still leaves Trump effectively with almost a double-digit margin over 2020’s race. One upshot of all this is that the 2024 rematch may not really be as close as the general polling is making it look. Another is that Democrats should be even more worried about Biden’s chances than they already are. The post Is Trump Even Further Ahead? appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

Tragedy and Inspiration in DC

MusiCares Person Of The Year benefit gala honoring Bon Jovi founder‚ namesake and frontman Jon Bon Jovi (pictured center with the band) will be held February 2nd‚ two days before the Grammy Awards telecast‚ at the Los Angeles Convention Center.   Bon Jovi (the band)‚ Bruce Springsteen and Melissa Etheridge will perform at the 33rd annual benefit gala with proceeds going to provide essential support for MusiCares outreach programs. Since ’06‚ the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation (formerly the Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation) has worked to break the cycle of hunger‚ poverty and homelessness by developing partnerships‚ creating programs and providing grant funding to support innovative community organizations. Harvey Mason Jr.‚ CEO of the Recording Academy and MusiCares called Bon Jovi “a true music icon‚ and someone who represents the goodness of our music community.” MusicCares offers preventive‚ emergency and recovery programs as part of its mission to support the health and welfare of the music community. The post MusiCares Person Of The Year: Jon Bon Jovi appeared first on RockinTown.

Notably‚ the judge in the case (Kaplan)‚ forbade Trump or his attorneys from arguing that he didn't sexually assault Carroll. Former President Trump has been ordered to pay $83.3 million in E. Jean Carroll’s civil defamation trial. Trump-@ejeancarroll verdict says Carroll proved more than nominal defamation by Trump.So Trump has to pay:$7.3 million for compensatory damages.$11 million for reputation repair.$65 million in punitive damages.Total: $83.3 million.— Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC) January 26‚ 2024 Carroll accused Trump of having sexually assaulting her in the mid-1990s at a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room in Manhattan. While the alleged attack happened decades ago‚ Carroll sued under New York’s Adult Survivors Act‚ which allows victims to sue for civil damages beyond the statute of limitations. “I am filing this on behalf of every woman who has ever been harassed‚ assaulted‚ silenced‚ or spoken up only to be shamed‚ fired‚ ridiculed and belittled‚” Carrol said last year. Notably‚ the judge in the case (Kaplan)‚ forbade Trump or his attorneys from arguing that he didn’t sexually assault Carroll.Winter Sun Plus is NOW 40% off! Boost your natural defenses with this powerful vitamin D3 and K formula! The judge reminded the jury to accept the earlier trial’s verdict. When he noted the trial established Trump “inserted his finger into her vagina‚” the former president reportedly jolted from his seat and wore an expression of disgust. Trump said on the witness stand that he denied Carroll’s claims because he “wanted to defend myself‚” which the judge told the jury to ignore. In closing arguments for Carroll Friday morning‚ her attorney argued that Trump acted as if he was above the law by lying‚ saying that the former president “ignored the other jury verdict as if it never happened‚” and even repeated the claims at a press conference during the second trial. “Donald Trump engaged in the very same defamation after the trial‚” attorney Roberta Kaplan (no relation) said. Trump then stood up‚ buttoned his suit jacket‚ and stormed out of the courtroom. After Trump stormed out‚ Judge Kaplan briefly interrupted the closing argument and said: “The record will reflect that Mr. Trump just rose and walked out of the courtroom.” Fuck It Prior to Friday’s closing arguments‚ Trump attorney Alina Habba became frustrated after the judge forbade her from including examples of tweets not entered into evidence during the trial. “No. No. Your honor‚ I have been—” Habba began to say.“Ms. Habba‚ you are on the verge of spending some time in the lockout‚” replied the judge‚ cutting her off. “Now sit down.”“Fuck it‚” Habba muttered upon sitting down. The jury reached its decision after slightly less than three hours of deliberations. Carroll’s attorney also Friday asked the jury to order Trump to pay at least $24 million in damages‚ according to multiple outlets; so $83 million is a huge victory for virtue. Add that to the $5 million Carroll was awarded in her 2023 case against Trump. Trump called the defamation ruling “ridiculous”‚ and promised an appeal.

“I’ve done it once before…I’ve already talked to my TAG (The Adjutant General)‚ my General‚ Mancino‚ we’ve already started putting the numbers together‚” says Gov. Kevin Stitt. Governor Kevin Stitt (R) announced he’s deploying the Oklahoma National Guard to Texas amid its dispute with the Biden administration over the right to defend its borders. Stitt confirmed the deployment on Fox News Friday‚ saying he’d sent his National Guard to Texas before and that this time would be no different. “Absolutely‚” the governor responded when asked if he’d follow former President Donald Trump’s recent call for all willing states to dispatch National Guard troops to aid Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R)‚ who’s entrenched in a feud with Biden over razor wire barriers in Eagle Pass. JUST IN: Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt announces he is sending the Oklahoma National Guard to aid Texas in its border battle with Joe Biden.“We’ve already started putting the numbers together‚” he says.This decision follows a request from President Donald Trump urging states… pic.twitter.com/qviWlhrCyv— The Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) January 26‚ 2024 “I’ve done it once before and we’re looking…I’ve already talked to my TAG (The Adjutant General)‚ my General‚ Mancino‚ we’ve already started putting the numbers together‚” Stitt said.Our fan-favorite Turbo Force Plus is now 40% off! See for yourself the delicious one-of-a-kind energy boost infowarriors CRAVE! “We’ll be in contact with Gov. Abbott.” Gov. Stitt’s confirmation he’ll send National Guard personnel to Texas comes as former president Trump on Thursday urged states to mobilize their National Guard units to help Texas defend its border. “We encourage all willing States to deploy their guards to Texas to prevent the entry of Illegals‚ and to remove them back across the Border‚” Trump stated‚ adding‚ “Those Biden has let in should not get comfortable because they will be going home.” The Sooner State was the first to declare its commitment to backing the State of Texas in its entanglement with the Biden administration earlier this week‚ after which 24 other GOP-led states followed suit. Oklahoma stands with Texas. https://t.co/67VzVEfEv1— Governor Kevin Stitt (@GovStitt) January 24‚ 2024 Abbott told Tucker Carlson in an interview Friday that 10 states had already sent troops to Texas and that he expected others to do the same. “I’ll be shocked and disappointed if almost all of them do not send‚” said the Texas governor. “There have been about 10 [states] so far that have sent National Guard or other law enforcement. They now are joined together with us. And this is a fight for the future of America‚ and they all know it. And so I believe that they will all be in on this effort.” Watch: HISTORIC! All Republican Governors Back Texas As They Stand Up Against The Fed’s Border Invasion HISTORIC! All Republican Governors Back Texas As They Stand Up Against The Fed's Border Invasion pic.twitter.com/ZXoMXJF5ZF— Alex Jones (@RealAlexJones) January 25‚ 2024

"Everybody has a right to defend themselves when they are wrongfully accused and to be able to say‚' I didn't do it.'" Attorney Alina Habba passionately decried the injustices that unfolded in a Manhattan courtroom following her representation of former President Donald Trump on Friday. Speaking to reporters after a New York district court judge ruled Trump must pay author E. Jean Carroll $83 million in damages for defamation‚ Habba pointed out the trial was a sham and that she’d been hindered by the court in presenting evidence‚ calling certain witnesses and otherwise mounting a comprehensive defense. “I am so proud to stand with President Trump‚ but I am not proud to stand with what I saw in that courtroom‚” Habba stated. .@AlinaHabba is right!!! We must protect American’s free speech and right to a fair trial! Pres Trump was denied a fair trial in NY where judges are now political activist instead of delivering justice! pic.twitter.com/nSYtasp8eK— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) January 26‚ 2024 “Before I walked into court‚ that judge decided that every single defense President Trump had we were not allowed to raise in front of the jury‚” Habba said‚ a situation similar to what Infowars host Alex Jones experienced in his recent trials.Winter Sun Plus is NOW 40% off! Boost your natural defenses with this powerful vitamin D3 and K formula! “It is in writing and I encourage the journalist‚ the real journalists‚ to take a minute to look at his orders‚” she suggested. “That is a violation of everything I stand for and that is why I stand with Trump‚” Habba said. “And that is why so many Americans are so proud that he is running again and so excited to run to the ballot box.” “We are seeing a violation of our justice system. Ladies and gentlemen‚ you are not allowed to be stripped of every defense that you have. You are not allowed to be told that you can’t bring it up.” “I will continue with President Trump to fight for everybody’s First Amendment right to speak‚” Habba continued. “Everybody has a right to defend themselves when they are wrongfully accused and to be able to say‚’ I didn’t do it.’ And to double and triple and quadruple down and say‚ This is wrong. This is wrong.'” “But we are in the state of New York. We are in a New York jury. And that is why we are seeing these witch hunts‚ these hoaxes as he calls them and this is another one of them being brought in New York.” Habba said she plans to appeal the verdicts. Meanwhile‚ Trump also criticized the verdicts on Truth Social‚ writing‚ “There is no longer Justice in America.”