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It's not long now until the 2024 total solar eclipse and‚ weather permitting‚ it should be a spectacular celestial event. As exciting as it is‚ there are a number of safety concerns‚ particularly in the parts of the US that will be in the path of totality‚ with some now announcing the deployment of the National Guard. The 2017 total solar eclipse‚ gorgeous as it was‚ took place during the solar minimum‚ the part of the Sun's 11-year cycle where activity is at its minimum. This year's eclipse coincides with the solar maximum‚ meaning not only should we get a glorious corona‚ but streamers and prominences‚ bright‚ pink curls or loops coming from the Sun.  While the main priority for eclipse viewers should of course be protecting their eyes‚ there have been a number of warnings from emergency officials in recent weeks to stock up on water‚ food and fuel ahead of the eclipse‚ as well as some schools in the path of totality being advised to shut. These warnings are not due to the eclipse itself‚ but because of the influx of tourists associated with it‚ and putting pressure on transport‚ emergency‚ and cell phone infrastructure that isn't designed to cope with such a large number of people.At the request of Oklahoma's McCurtain County Emergency Management team‚ the Oklahoma National Guard will also be called in to help with potential problems.“McCurtain County Emergency Management requested our support because they expect up to 100‚000 additional people visiting their communities to watch the eclipse‚” Lt. Col. Jabonn Flurry‚ 63rd CST commander of the Oklahoma National Guard said in a statement. “This influx of visitors has the potential to overtax local resources and thanks to the training and experience our Guardsmen have working alongside local agencies all across Oklahoma‚ the CST is uniquely qualified to support our fellow Oklahomans.”The Oklahoma guard will provide hazardous materials (HAZMAT) response capabilities during the eclipse‚ such as responding to industrial fires and lightening the load on local emergency workers.There have been people online claiming this is an overreaction along the lines of "We didn't have these kinds of warnings in 2017/some previous eclipse and everything was fine!" to which the answer is: yes we did‚ and no it wasn't. Ahead of the 2017 eclipse‚ local government planned for an increase in visitors‚ but traffic congestion was still a problem."The millions of people drawn to locations along the eclipse path taxed limited transportation facilities‚ and traffic congestion was intense in many locations‚" transportation engineering consultant Jonathan Upchurch explained in Transportation Research News."Across the country‚ Interstate highways near the path of totality experienced traffic congestion shortly after the eclipse‚ with longer-than-normal travel times on Interstate highways. For example‚ travel from Casper‚ Wyoming‚ to Denver‚ Colorado— normally a 4-hour trip—took 10 hours or more.  Traffic congestion on rural Interstate routes lasted for up to 13 hours after the eclipse."Additionally‚ though you may have missed them‚ there were warnings in place ahead of the 2017 eclipse. What's more‚ they were effective‚ so it makes sense that officials are using them ahead of this year's eclipse."The data showed that Oregon‚ Idaho‚ and Wyoming had the most significant traffic increase on the eclipse day compared to other states‚" a paper on traffic management during the 2017 eclipse explains."Interestingly‚ Nebraska‚ Kansas‚ and Missouri had reduced daily traffic‚ one of the reasons might be the advice from transportation agencies for people to reduce their errands during the eclipse week."

What is your favorite gesture? A little thumbs up? The funny squiggle in the air when you want the check in a restaurant or even something ruder? Well‚ scientists have discovered that apes and humans aren’t the only ones making gestures. The Japanese tits (Parus minor) are getting in on the act and being downright polite about it to boot. Japanese tits form mating pairs in the spring and build a nest with a small entrance hole. The hole does not allow both birds to enter at the same time so they must go into the nest one after the other. Researchers from the University of Tokyo found that the birds have a wing-fluttering gesture that they use to communicate with their mates that simply indicates “After you”. “In our latest discovery‚ we revealed that the Japanese tit uses gestures to communicate with their mate‚” said Associate Professor Toshitaka Suzuki in a statement. Suzuki and co-author Norimasa Sugita observed eight pairs of parent birds breeding in nest boxes. Before entering the nest with food‚ the two birds would often sit on a perch outside the nest first‚ until one of the pair fluttered their wings at the other bird. The bird not fluttering then entered the nest first. They found that more often than not it was the female that fluttered her wings at the male and if she did not‚ she entered the nest first. Only one of the eight males was seen to use the wing-fluttering gesture. They also found that the order in which the male and female birds arrived at the perches above the nest entrance did not determine who entered the nest first.            “We were surprised to find that the results were much clearer than we had expected. We observed that Japanese tits flutter their wings exclusively in the presence of their mate‚ and upon witnessing this behavior‚ the mate almost always entered the nest box first‚” explained Suzuki. Overall‚ the team looked at 321 nest visits in detail. Gestures can be classified into deictic gestures such as pointing out an object or symbolic gestures that convey messages. These symbolic gestures require more complex cognitive skills. The wing fluttering gesture only appeared in the presence of a mate and stopped when the mate entered the nest box without physical contact between the pair‚ leading the researchers to believe it was a true symbolic gesture. “There is a hypothesis that walking on two legs allowed humans to maintain an upright posture‚ freeing up their hands for greater mobility‚ which in turn contributed to the evolution of gestures. Similarly‚ when birds perch on branches‚ their wings become free‚ which we think may facilitate the development of gestural communication‚” explained Suzuki. Previously these birds have been found to combine calls and sing with syntax. Now‚ they have been found to use gestures‚ opening up more avenues for research into what these birds are capable of when it comes to communication. “We will continue to decipher what birds are talking about through gestures‚ vocalizations‚ and their combinations. This endeavor not only enables us to uncover the rich world of animal languages‚ but also serves as a crucial key to unravelling the origins and evolution of our own language‚” finished Suzuki.The paper is published in Cell Biology.

Click to Skip Ahead Risks What to Do if Your Dog Eats Pasta How to Serve Pasta to Your Dog FAQ Pasta is probably featured on your home menu at least once‚ if not a few times a week. Therefore‚ it makes sense your dog has looked at you longingly when you eat it. So‚ is it something you can safely share with them? Plain‚ cooked pasta isn’t toxic to your dog‚ but it isn’t exactly a healthy addition to their diet. So‚ while they can eat it‚ there are some factors to consider before giving them a bite‚ which we’ll discuss below. Risks of Eating Pasta Pasta cooked without sauces‚ oil‚ or added seasoning is generally fine for dogs as long as they don’t have a grain or wheat allergy. Pasta is usually made from simple ingredients like flour‚ water‚ and eggs‚ which are all safe for dogs. However‚ it becomes a problem when sauce or seasonings are added to the pasta. Ingredients like onions and garlic are toxic to dogs in large amounts. They are part of the Allium family‚ alongside leeks and chives‚ which can damage a dog’s red blood cells‚ causing cell destruction and anemia. Since onions and garlic are common ingredients in pasta dishes‚ avoiding pasta with sauce is vital. It’s also important to note that dogs can be sensitive to some spices and herbs. Oregano‚ for example‚ is toxic and is commonly found in sauces. Other ingredients like cheese can seem harmless‚ but too much can result in health issues such as gastrointestinal problems and the excess calories can cause weight gain. Image Credit: New Africa‚ Shutterstock What to Do if Your Dog Eats Pasta If you drop a little pasta on the floor while dishing it up‚ or your toddler throws some during a tantrum‚ don’t worry. A few bits of pasta scooped up by your dog aren’t going to do much harm in most cases. At the most‚ your dog might suffer from an upset stomach. However‚ contact your veterinarian if you’re worried about how your dog reacts. Pasta sauce can contain toxic ingredients‚ but your dog must eat more than a couple of sauce covered bites for it to be a problem. How to Serve Pasta to Your Dog Feeding your dog plain‚ cooked pasta occasionally isn’t likely going to harm them. Many veterinarians still advise against serving it because it offers little if any nutritional benefits. If they eat too much‚ your dog can fill up on pasta and then refuse their dinner. Long-term‚ too much pasta can result in excess calories that can lead to weight gain and obesity and contribute to problems like diabetes and joint issues. Image Credit: akiragiulia‚ Pixabay Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Can Dogs Be Allergic to Pasta? Toxic ingredients and extra calories aren’t the only reasons some owners keep pasta away from their dogs. Some can be allergic to it thanks to ingredients like eggs and flour. If your dog suffers from a wheat or egg allergy or intolerance‚ they might develop diarrhea‚ vomiting‚ itchiness‚ weight loss‚ or chronic ear infections. If you notice any of these signs‚ contact your vet. Can Dogs Eat Noodles? Yes‚ dogs can eat plain‚ cooked noodles. Much like pasta‚ they aren’t a natural part of a dog’s diet‚ so they shouldn’t be given too much or too often as it can lead to weight gain because of the extra calories. Image Credit: Ika Rahma H‚ Shutterstock Can Dogs Eat Any Human Food? There are plenty of human foods that dogs can eat; you just have to be careful about what you pick‚ how you serve it‚ and how much you give them. For example‚ dogs can eat the following in moderation: Apples-remove seeds Bananas Blueberries Cantaloupe Carrots Celery Cucumbers Green beans Pears Pumpkin Strawberries Sweet potato Watermelon If you are ever stuck for something yummy and exciting that is safe to feed your dog‚ ask your vet. They can offer helpful advice‚ especially if your dog suffers from any health problems. Final Thoughts Dogs can eat pasta‚ but just because something isn’t toxic to your dog doesn’t mean it’s suitable. Plain‚ cooked pasta won’t likely harm your dog‚ but it can lead to them putting on weight if you feed them too much. If the pasta has added seasoning‚ sauces‚ oil‚ or spices‚ it can be toxic to your dog. Many ingredients we like to add to our sauces‚ like onion and garlic‚ can harm your dog. Sources https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/onion-garlic-chive-and-leek-toxicity-in-dogs https://www.webmd.com/pets/dogs/ss/slideshow-foods-your-dog-should-never-eat https://www.petmd.com/dog/care/7-mistakes-could-cause-weight-gain-dogs-and-cats https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/digestive/food-allergies-dogs https://www.purina.co.uk/articles/dogs/feeding/what-dogs-eat/can-dogs-eat-pasta-noodles https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/oregano Featured Image Credit: Zoeytoja‚ Shutterstock The post Can Dogs Eat Pasta? Vet-Approved Facts &; FAQ appeared first on Pet Keen.

Christian apologists past and present — including notables such as Francis Schaeffer and Chuck Colson — have pondered a powerful question and‚ at the same time‚ presented a challenge to people who believe that the God of the Bible is real: “How then should we live?” In other words‚ if you believe in a loving God who has revealed His truth in the Bible‚ how then should you conduct your life to reflect that truth and that love? Who will win the day: the real God of love or the no-god of the godless? Across the world‚ many religions and belief systems compete with the God of the Bible. And people follow prescribed regimens and rituals based on those belief systems. Many would argue that the reason for so much conflict and war is fighting over who is right about the existence of God. So what if everyone everywhere decided to live like the atheists among us? What if we all decided to drop our belief in a higher power and we all just agreed that believing in God has been‚ and always will be‚ a fantasy? Then the attitude that “my God is greater than your god” would not mean anything any more. There simply would be no gods for comparison and over which to fight. Would this finally bring peace? Would there finally be a universal acceptance and agreement that we could now all just “live and let live”? You go your way and I go mine? There would be no persecution for faith since there would no longer be any faith. Faith? Faith in what or in whom? Ourselves? That’s it. No one is out there in the Great Beyond. It’s just us‚ folks. Every person would then decide within themselves what is right and wrong — or‚ more accurately‚ what suits them best‚ because no ultimate judge of what is right or wrong exists. All that matters is what “feels good.” As in the 1960s‚ so our global mantra today would be: “If it feels good‚ do it.” And what feels good or right would also include the act of ending it all by suicide‚ since‚ hey‚ what’s the point? For example‚ if someone else's reality or truth means that person spends his days tormenting you‚ then it would be time to say adios to everything and everyone (except without the “Dios” part). 'No God‚ only nature' When I first came to New York‚ I had a very good friend named Connie who was an avowed atheist. Connie explained to me how she came to the conclusion that there was no God. Her proof was all "scientifically based‚" because she put this so-called God to the test. One day when she was a teenager‚ her parents were having one of their typical knock-down‚ drag-out marital spats. She fell into her usual depression over this fight and walked out of the house onto the back porch. Connie looked out into the back yard and‚ with tears in her eyes‚ cried out in a sincere prayer‚ "God‚ if you exist‚ show me that you are real!" She wanted the pain to go away with the "touch" of the loving God she had heard about but in whom she had never believed. Well‚ within seconds of that prayer‚ a little bunny came hopping out from among the hedges and proceeded right across the back yard. Connie couldn't believe what she was seeing! She started to smile and warm up inside. At that point in her story‚ Connie looked at me and said‚ “That’s when I knew for certain that there was no God‚ only nature.” I was astounded and said‚ “Connie‚ who do you think sent the bunny?” But Connie was adamant. Nature was‚ in fact‚ God. And many today believe that‚ as well. The climate change contingent will testify that nature is ultimately the end-all and be-all. Which is sad. When I was growing up‚ we called “climate change” by another name: winter‚ spring‚ summer‚ and fall. But even nature would have to go by the wayside as "god." There would no longer be "Nature and Nature's God" as stated in our Declaration of Independence. There would just be the nature of man‚ which one (nonexistent) God described this way: "The heart [i.e.‚ the basic nature of a human being] is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" (See Jeremiah 17:9.) We would all go along on the path of life doing whatever our hearts desired‚ and if the wheels came off along our journey — or we rammed into someone else with control issues — all hell (if that even existed) would break loose. None of us would be long for this world — or the next (if‚ again‚ that even existed). God or no-god? One of the really big and obvious problems‚ however‚ would be whose “no-god” would we follow? Seventeenth-century philosopher Blaise Pascal said that inside every human heart is a “God-shaped vacuum.” But why? Why deep inside every human being is there a desire to follow something or someone ... bigger? Does our inner spirit know and attest to something of which we are not fully aware? Could that even be possible in a no-god world? Eventually‚ because of this “vacuum‚” we would all end up choosing one version of one no-god or the other. For some‚ like my friend Connie‚ it would be the no-god of nature. For others‚ it would be the no-god of the Bible or the Koran or people like the Buddha or Confucius or what National Lampoon magazine once called the "Cosmic Muffin." Eventually‚ whether we chose or not‚ the no-god would be chosen for us by those more powerful. Look no farther than the strongest examples‚ North Korea and China. Those places‚ pre-eminent among many others‚ follow the no-god of the All-Powerful State. Who will win the day: the real God of love or the no-god of the godless? It remains for each of us to decide. A fisherman named Peter back in the first century believed that a man named Jesus filled that vacuum. He asked the important question that each one of us ultimately must consider. When Jesus declared Himself to be God in the flesh sent into the world to reveal Himself as humanity’s one and only Savior‚ the New Testament tells us that many stopped following Him. But when Jesus looked at Peter and asked him point-blank‚ "Will you also leave me?" Peter‚ speaking for the disciples who remained at Jesus' side‚ had the answer: "Lord‚ to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (See John 6.) And way back yonder in the period covered by the Old Testament‚ a prophet named Joshua made his God decision. He wrote‚ "As for me and my household‚ we will serve the Lord." Joshua knew the one true loving God because he had seen Him at work through miracles and answered prayers in his own life. Just like Peter. What now? If there really is no God‚ which no-god is the one most likely to be real‚ to exist‚ and to fulfill the vacuum deep inside? Many of us choose the One who not only sent the bunny but who sent the Savior.

Democratic strategist James Carville has been puzzling over why President Joe Biden is hemorrhaging support among voters‚ black men in particular. The conclusion he drew over the weekend has ruffled some feathers. In an interview published Saturday in the New York Times‚ the 79-year-old partisan told opinion columnist Maureen Dowd that when looking at Biden's approval ratings‚ "It's like walking in on your grandma naked. You can't get the image out of your mind." According to the latest Gallup poll‚ Biden's job approval rating is 40% and his disapproval rating is 55%. The Economist/YouGov and Rasmussen Reports polls put the geriatric Democrat's disapproval rating one and two points higher‚ respectively. Former President Donald Trump appears to have an edge on Biden in numerous swing states — such as Arizona‚ Wisconsin‚ Pennsylvania‚ and Michigan — as well as nationally. Dowd suggested that Carville‚ who previously advised failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and managed Bill Clinton's first presidential campaign‚ has been "obsessed with Biden bleeding Black male voters." CNN elections analyst Harry Enten recently indicated that Biden's lead over Trump among black voters has "been sliced by a third‚" from a 62-point advantage four years ago to a 21-point advantage this month. "This decline in support for Joe Biden among voters of color in Michigan is something we've been seeing in state after state after state and nationally as well‚ where he's got some big problems‚" said Enten. "This is a historic low amount of support for a Democratic presidential candidate among voters of color. And it seems to be happening across the board." Carville appears to have zeroed in on at least one reason for the drop in support‚ telling Dowd‚ "A suspicion of mine is that there are too many preachy females" dominating the culture of the Democratic Party. "'Don't drink beer. Don't watch football. Don't eat hamburgers. This is not good for you‚'" continued Carville. "The message is too feminine: 'Everything you're doing is destroying the planet. You've got to eat your peas.'" "If you listen to Democratic elites — NPR is my go-to place for that — the whole talk is about how women‚ and women of color‚ are going to decide this election‚" added Carville. "I'm like: 'Well‚ 48 percent of the people that vote are males. Do you mind if they have some consideration?'" The strategist suggested that all of the "feminine" browbeating‚ micromanagement‚ and alarmism is helping to turn off voters along with the left's elitist "faculty lounge" attitudes and "woke stuff." "There are a lot of people on the left that would rather lose and be pure because it makes them feel good‚ it makes them feel superior‚" said Carville. While Carville clearly wants Democrats to succeed in November — even though readily admitting Biden lacks Trump's energy and cognition — his constructive criticism was not well-received by all on the left. Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.) tweeted‚ "Maybe he should start a podcast about it. I hear men are really underrepresented in that space." The titular host of MSNBC's freshly cancelled "The Mehdi Hasan show‚" who once likened non-Muslims to "cattle‚" said Carville "is beyond parody." Shannon Watts‚ founder of the gun-grab group Moms Demand Action‚ tweeted‚ "Starting to see some of the Boomer and Gen X men who pretended to be progressive out themselves as sexists as women actually attain power." Deborah Jenkins‚ a newly minted member of Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's new reparations commission‚ responded to Carville‚ writing‚ "Wow‚ why don't you tell us how you really feel!" Marianne Williamson‚ the long-shot Democratic Biden challenger who recently "unsuspend[ed]" her campaign‚ tweeted‚ "The problem isn't that there are too many 'preachy women' in that space; the problem is that they're simply repeating what men have already said." Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

When the legislature becomes a lawful power that can pass bills for the purpose of plunder‚ tyranny isn’t far behind. Mark Levin is well aware and knows exactly who and what inspired it. “Marxism is the most evil of isms‚” Levin begins. “The idea that you can camouflage your agenda in populism‚ the name of the people‚ inequality‚ that is the proletariat overthrowing the bourgeois.” This was popularized by three major political philosophers: Marx‚ Hegel‚ and Rousseau. “Marx figured out how to popularize tyranny. Hegel figured out how to popularize tyranny‚” Levin explains‚ adding‚ “Rousseau figured out how to popularize tyranny.” While these philosophers may be long passed‚ their ideas live on in our current government. They’re exhibited and carried out by lobbyists‚ special interest groups‚ and those whose purpose is supposed to be helping the country and promoting freedom — but isn’t. Their real purpose‚ according to Levin‚ is “to get laws made” and “regulations in place to make them rich.” Those in government spend more time getting wealthier at the expense of others‚ attempting to regulate their competitors out of business‚ and have Congress pass laws to force people to do things like buy electric vehicles. And this government is growing. “The bigger the bureaucracy gets‚ the more centralized it gets‚ the more powerful Washington gets vis-à-vis the individual‚ vis-à-vis towns‚ vis-à-vis the states‚ the less your vote matters‚” Levin says‚ noting that the evils of Marxism won’t stop until there’s nearly nothing left to fight for. “It’s as if everybody has to become impoverished and destitute and punished before there’s a chance to eventually turn it around‚ because this is a cycle‚” Levin says‚ adding‚ “it’s like a hamster wheel you can’t get off.” Want more from Mark Levin?To enjoy more of "the Great One" — Mark Levin as you've never seen him before — subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America‚ defend the Constitution‚ and live the American dream.