EAGLE PASS — Thirteen governors joined Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott at the southern border in Eagle Pass on Sunday to show support for his ongoing feud with the Biden administration over the border crisis‚ and see for theirselves how Texas has stepped up where the federal government has failed. “Governor Abbott has been stepping up where the federal government is dropping their duty‚” Gov. Sarah Sanders of Arkansas told The Daily Wire after a briefing at the border. “So states are coming together‚ working together‚ to help do the job of the federal government.” The visit to the border comes amid a border crisis‚ with more than 10 million illegal immigrants crossing the border since Joe Biden took office. After the federal government failed to secure the border‚ Abbott took matters into his own hands by taking control of Shelby Park and reinforcing the border. We spoke to Arkansas Governor @SarahHuckabee earlier today at the southern border‚ where she says Texas is proving it can do the job the Biden administration says is impossible "States are coming together‚ working together‚ to help do the job of the federal government" pic.twitter.com/EOplmTdmCR — Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) February 5‚ 2024 Speaking in front of national guard troops‚ Abbott touted his administration’s success in significantly reducing the number of border crossings and blasted the Biden administration.  “Joe Biden has completely abdicated and abandoned his responsibility to enforce the laws of the United States‚” Abbott said. “As opposed to detaining any illegal immigrants‚ Biden has instead let them all loose across the entire country with no ability to accurately determine their whereabouts.” Gov. Greg Gianforte (R-MT) praised Abbott for his state’s success in lowering the number of crosses in the Eagle Pass area from thousands to single digits.  “They have virtually shut down crossings here in Eagle Pass‚” Gianforte told The Daily Wire. “They showed pictures of 3‚500 people in a detention center right here in this park … in the last couple of weeks — since they’ve taken the actions here to secure the border — they’ve had single digit crossings each day.” Gianforte‚ whose state borders Canada‚ said he’s been to the southern border four times because the drugs coming across the borders have harmed his state.   “We’ve been able to shut down Montana Meth but now we have Mexican Meth in Montana along with the fentanyl‚ and it’s breaking up families‚ it’s increasing violent crime‚” Gianforte said‚ adding that Montana’s National Guard troops were on the southern border for most of last year. “We need to secure our border and put it to an end.” While 25 governors signed onto a letter in support of Abbott last week‚ his press conference at Shelby Park was attended by just about half of the signees. In addition to Sanders and Gianforte‚ the trip to the border included Georgia Governor Brian Kemp‚ Idaho Governor Brad Little‚ Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb‚ Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds‚ Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry‚ Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves‚ Missouri Governor Mike Parson‚ Nebraska Governor Jill Pillen‚ New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu‚ Tennessee Governor Bill Lee‚ and Utah Governor Spencer Cox. Sanders said the group of governors does not intend to abandon the mission until the Biden administration steps up.  “Hopefully the federal government sees that Texas and other states are capable of doing the job they claim is impossible‚ and that they’ll start helping in the process‚” Sanders said. “If they don’t‚ you’ll continue to see states step up because we know that we have to protect our border and protect the people of our states.” Texas authorities denied a request from the Biden administration to hand over control of the park to Border Patrol‚ with the Texas National Guard and Department of Public Safety instead maintaining control and even reinforcing existing border barriers with additional razor wire.

Within the first couple hours of the Sunday release of a Senate bill coupling border security reforms with aid for U.S. allies‚ such as Ukraine and Israel‚ critics quickly began to highlight the words of one of the legislation’s architects as a reason to reject the 370-page measure while Republicans leaders in the House warned it would be “dead on arrival.” Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT)‚ a negotiator for Democrats‚ posted a thread to X sharing a list of “key elements” of the compromise that came out of a months long effort that sought to answer the call of President Joe Biden’s roughly $106 billion national security supplemental request and satisfy a Republican push for an overhaul of the immigration system that people in both major parties acknowledge needs to be shaken up. One post in the thread‚ featuring Murphy’s fifth point out of 10‚ said‚ “A requirement the President to funnel asylum claims to the land ports of entry when more than 5‚000 people cross a day. The border never closes‚ but claims must be processed at the ports.” It adds‚ “This allows for a more a more orderly‚ humane asylum processing system.” The phrase “The border never closes” quickly began to take hold among the $118 billion package’s early detractors on the GOP side of the Senate‚ which has 49 Republicans‚ 48 Democrats‚ and three independents. One of the independents‚ Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ)‚ helped put together the bill. “‘The border never closes’ is a good summary of this bill‚ and of Joe Biden’s policy‚” said Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH).  “I can understand why Chris Murphy supports it. I cannot imagine why any Republican supports this atrocious proposal.” Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) also highlights the post‚ saying‚ “THE BORDER NEVER CLOSES. The words of bill author [Sen. Chris Murphy] … Again — this is not a border security bill.” The lawmaker who has spearheaded the talks for the Republicans‚ Sen. James Lankford (R-OK)‚ released a three-page summary that broke down the various provisions for border security enshrined in the legislation. According to the document‚ the bill deconstructs the “catch-and-release fiasco‚” imposes “immediate” consequences for illegal crossings‚ provides $650 million to build and reinforce miles of border wall‚ and change up the asylum system. Lankford also took to X to push back on of criticism about previously leaked section concerning 5‚000 migrants‚ which some naysayers‚ including Donald Trump Jr. and Arizona Republican Senate candidate Kari Lake‚ equated to “mass amnesty” and allows up to 1.8 million to 2 million illegal immigrants into the country a year. “The Border Emergency Authority has been the most misunderstood or maybe just misrepresented parts of the bill. Some people have said it would mean 5‚000 people a day are coming into the country every day. That is absurd and untrue‚” Lankford said. “The emergency authority is not designed to let 5‚000 people in‚ it is designed to close the border and turn 5‚000 people around‚” he added. “The Border Emergency Authority only lasts 3 yrs to force this Admin to shut down the border &; to give time for the next POTUS to hire more agents &; more officers. After three years‚ the emergency authority expires because we should have regained full control of our border by then.” Democrat and Republican leadership in the Senate voiced support for the legislation‚ including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)‚ who said the measure “has direct and immediate solutions to the crisis at our southern border” and called on the Senate “carefully consider the opportunity in front of us and prepare to act.” Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) indicated he plans to act quickly on the bill‚ saying he will take the “first procedural step” on Monday to get it passed in the Senate and have the first vote scheduled for Wednesday. Sixty votes will be needed for the legislation to make headway‚ a threshold detractors hope to keep from breaking. Whether the bill‚ which also has support from the Biden administration‚ manages to make it through the Senate‚ the compromise’s supporters already face a hurdle among Republicans in command of the House who vowed on Sunday that the legislation will not pass‚ let alone get a vote in the chamber‚ while some vouched for the border security bill they passed last year that Schumer has refused to bring up for consideration. “I’ve seen enough. This bill is even worse than we expected‚ and won’t come close to ending the border catastrophe the President has created‚” said House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA). “As the lead Democrat negotiator proclaimed: Under this legislation‚ ‘the border never closes.’ If this bill reaches the House‚ it will be dead on arrival.” The compromise bill is slated to be considered in the Senate this week as the House aims to tackle a “clean‚ standalone” bill to send more aid to Israel and potentially vote on articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas‚ who helped devise the Senate legislation‚ for his handling of the border crisis. Former President Donald Trump‚ who is the GOP frontrunner as he campaigns for a second term in the White House‚ has said on Truth Social he opposed the Senate deal “unless we get EVERYTHING needed to shut down the INVASION.”

Virtual reality (VR) is not just about gaming; it’s increasingly finding profound applications in unexpected places. Dr. Evelyn Chan‚ an Australian pediatrician‚ uses virtual reality to transform needle procedures into immersive excursions for children‚ altering how they perceive medical treatments. Let’s look at the fascinating story of Smileyscope and its dramatic impact on pediatric healthcare. Alleviating fear and pain Dr. Chan developed Smileyscope after witnessing children’s anxiety and anguish during medical procedures. She established Smileyscope in 2017 with a defined aim. “Most VR is just a distraction‚” explains Chan. “But we turn those sensations into something less scary.” Making the vision a reality Dr. Chan faced obstacles in achieving her goals since she lacked both technological expertise and sufficient funds. To solve these challenges‚ she partnered with the worldwide digital agency DEPT. They launched a quick prototyping campaign with a small team of software developers‚ animators‚ UX designers‚ and sound engineers. From concept to implementation The initial concept‚ an aquatic excursion timed with the medical process‚ established the groundwork. Choosing the correct hardware was critical. The team chose Google Daydream‚ a low-cost and user-friendly headgear. This decision enabled rapid testing and iteration‚ with the headset’s portability allowing testing in a variety of locations‚ including schools. Developing an antimicrobial VR solution Smileyscope began developing unique medical-grade hardware after the software proved to be useful. What was the result? An antimicrobial headset for children as young as four‚ suitable for a wide range of medical situations‚ including emergency care‚ cancer wards‚ and surgery. The outcomes were significant— follow-up clinical investigations revealed that Smileyscope decreased patients’ pain by 60 percent‚ lowered their anxiety levels by 40 percent‚ and cut the requirement for restraints in half. Presently‚ Smileyscope is the norm in Australian pediatric hospitals and has received authorization for utilization in American facilities‚ including Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. Testing and iterating  Smileyscope’s success was based on ongoing testing and iteration. Scenes and feelings were adjusted daily‚ with needles synchronized with virtual fish to produce a seamless and delightful experience. Dr. Chan and the DEPT team collaborated closely with children and medical professionals to acquire useful information. Early “a-ha” moments came when children accepted the needles. Smileyscope’s therapeutic applications have grown beyond needle procedures to include calming patients before and after various medical surgeries. Spatial audio and augmented reality were explored‚ opening up new possibilities for assisting the visually impaired and improving medical practices. Virtual reality’s transformative potential Dr. Chan underlines the value of virtual reality as a tool for helping individuals reinvent their world. VR has expanded beyond Smileyscope’s original vision‚ with uses in exposure therapy‚ medical simulation‚ teaching‚ and even PTSD treatment. The immersive experience is effective not only for distraction but also for fostering mental wellness and mindfulness. Smileyscope is a tribute to the transforming power of virtual reality when used by imaginative individuals. Dr. Evelyn Chan’s novel method has not only helped countless children overcome their fear of needles‚ but it has also opened the door to new possibilities in healthcare.The post “Smileyscope” revolutionizes pediatric care— from scary needles to exciting adventures first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

Indoor spaces‚ where many of us spend the majority of our lives‚ conceal a hidden threat: contaminants that enter not only through the air but also through our skin. Dive into the realm of semi-volatile organic compounds‚ investigating their origins and how they affect your health. Let us unlock the secrets of skin absorption and provide you with practical solutions for a better interior environment. Understanding the invisible threat: semi-volatile organic compounds Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by ordinary goods linger in the restricted spaces of our homes. A subset of these molecules‚ known as semi-volatile organic compounds‚ can stick to surfaces and enter our bodies via the skin‚ in addition to being inhaled. Let’s demystify the science behind semi-volatile organic compounds and their potential health impacts. The culprits: phthalates – ubiquitous and unseen Meet phthalates‚ the unseen contaminants found in plastics‚ building materials‚ and personal care goods. Phthalates‚ which have been linked to a variety of health issues‚ including decreased sperm quality and cardiovascular problems‚ are ubiquitous in our lives. Discover how these widespread substances get into our systems and why minimizing exposure is critical. Skin as a gateway In one investigation‚ researchers exposed subjects to increased phthalate levels to see how skin absorption compared to inhalation. The startling results revealed a large intake of phthalates from skin exposure alone‚ underscoring the importance of addressing this often overlooked route of exposure. Clothing‚ an inconspicuous reservoir Your wardrobe may include more than simply clothes. Examine how even supposedly clean garments can serve as a storage for toxins. Discover insights from tests in which participants wearing contaminated clothes reported increased exposure levels‚ emphasizing the necessity of clean clothing in reducing skin absorption. Beyond phthalates Phthalates are only the tip of the iceberg. Investigate studies indicating that chemicals such as nicotine and PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl compounds) can permeate the skin. Understand the broader consequences of indoor air quality and how numerous pollutants can enter your body via this overlooked pathway. Understanding how these contaminants reach your body is important because this will affect how they impact your health. Chemicals ingested travel through the intestines and liver before entering the bloodstream. Inhaled chemicals initially traverse the lungs‚ potentially being directly absorbed into the blood. Similarly‚ chemicals that permeate the skin can swiftly enter the bloodstream‚ requiring no open wound for absorption.  Even when exposure levels are comparable‚ the concentration of pollutants in the body differs based on the route of exposure. For instance‚ a study compared the concentration of bisphenol-A in the liver and kidney resulting from oral ingestion versus skin exposure. The findings revealed significant variations in concentrations in the kidney and liver‚ depending on the exposure route. Practical solutions for safeguarding your space Now that you understand the risk‚ it’s time to take action. Provide yourself with realistic ideas to fortify your indoor environment. 1. Choose low-emission building materials to reduce pollution sources. 2. Clean indoor surfaces regularly to remove any chemicals that have accumulated‚ particularly dusty surfaces. 3. Wash clothing and bedding frequently‚ and wash new clothes before wearing them to avoid skin absorption of harmful chemicals. 4. Proper ventilation or regular airing out of your home can help lower airborne pollution concentrations. 5. Maintain excellent hygiene – showering and cleaning hands after exposure might help reduce skin absorption. Implementing these procedures allows you to regain control of your interior environment‚ lowering the risk of skin absorption and improving overall air quality.The post Exposing the hidden threat: skin absorption of indoor air pollutants first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

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