Even as Americans grow increasingly pessimistic and agitated about their personal finances‚ Congress is about to ask struggling families to cover the cost of more funding for Ukraine. The $95 billion foreign aid package adopted Saturday by the House and facing near-certain passage in the Senate includes an additional $61 billion for Ukraine. Once added to the money already appropriated for Ukraine since 2022‚ the United States will have spent approximately $173 billion. That translates to more than $1‚300 per American household‚ according to Heritage Foundation economist Richard Stern‚ director of the Grover M. Hermann Center for the Federal Budget. Well over $1‚300 in new inflation taxes per American household&;#33; https://t.co/YNKpu8OA58— Richard A. Stern (@RichAStern) April 21‚ 2024 “This will continue to drive higher inflation and interest rates and increase the cost of living for Americans‚” Stern told The Daily Signal. “No matter where you live‚ every American family will pay the price.” Stern explained that the funding isn’t offset with spending cuts and will instead be added to “the national credit card and by printing cash out of thin air at the Fed.” He warned that it will devalue the U.S. dollar as well as the paychecks and life savings of all Americans. After three years of Bidenomics‚ Americans are feeling exasperated about the economy‚ pollster Scott Rasmussen discovered in an RMG Research survey conducted earlier this month. Only 19% of Americans surveyed say their personal finances are improving. That number has dropped five percentage points since January and is at its lowest point in 18 months. Nearly half‚ 44%‚ say their personal finances are getting worse. Inflation‚ caused by excessive government spending‚ is a significant factor in Americans’ economic outlook‚ according to Rasmussen’s survey. More than three-quarters of Americans‚ 76%‚ say their wages aren’t keeping up with inflation. By comparison‚ just 20% believe their incomes are keeping pace. That number is at its lowest level since September 2022. Heritage Action for America Executive Vice President Ryan Walker lamented that Washington politicians appear disconnected from the economic struggles of many Americans. Speaking to “The Daily Signal Podcast‚” Walker said Congress’ latest spending spree will negatively affect Americans’ personal finances. (Heritage Action is a partner organization of The Heritage Foundation‚ which founded The Daily Signal in 2014.) “The American people see it at the grocery store‚ they see it on their credit card bills‚ they see it in their mortgage rates‚ they see it in their credit card rates. They experience this on a daily basis‚” Walker said. “Many people in Washington‚ D.C.‚ may be so disconnected from the struggles of the average person in their community that they don’t take those factors into consideration. And they should.” While frustration mounts among everyday Americans‚ lawmakers in Washington will soon have spent more on foreign aid to Ukraine than the annual wages paid to every American manufacturing worker who produces motor vehicles‚ vehicle parts‚ and other transportation equipment. It’s also more than the annual wages paid to every American worker in all agriculture‚ mining‚ and oil and gas extraction industries‚ Stern calculated. With the Senate set to approve $61 billion more for Ukraine—along with $34 billion for Israel and the Indo-Pacific—lawmakers have made no attempt to offset the additional spending. On its own‚ the $95 billion package would cost $730 per household. Another $730 per household in brand NEW inflation taxes are set to hit once the “aid package” becomes law &;#63;&;#63;&;#63;&;#63; Never forget‚ the government has a monopoly on legal violence and doesn’t have any reason to care about your quality of life.— Richard A. Stern (@RichAStern) April 20‚ 2024 “Every time the federal government spends money‚ it forcefully takes that money from hard-working Americans‚” Stern explained. “Even if you don’t pay federal income taxes‚ you still pay through inflation taxes and slower overall economic growth.” The consequences of profligate spending aren’t just reflected in the national debt‚ already at $34.6 trillion and growing at a record pace. Stern noted that high interest rates for mortgages‚ for example‚ force some Americans out of the housing market or make it more costly for others to buy a home. When the government borrows money this way‚ driving interest rates higher‚ it does so by promising to tax someone else or print more money in the future‚ Stern said. As the government is now planning to lift yet another $95 billion out of the economy‚ the storm clouds are gathering. Mortgage rates jumped 0.2 percentage points in just a week. Chase Bank CEO Jamie Dimon and other leading bankers see mortgage rates climbing to about 8% with credit card debt already at record levels. “Never forget‚” Stern said‚ “the government has a monopoly on legal violence and doesn’t have any reason to care about your quality of life.” Rasmussen’s poll was conducted by RMG Research from April 3-4. It surveyed 1‚000 registered voters and has a plus or minus 3.1 percentage point margin of error. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy‚ pictured Thursday in Kyiv‚ celebrated the House’s passage of $61 billion in funding for his country. (Photo: Kay Nietfeld/Getty Images) The post How Much Are You Paying for Ukraine Aid&;#63; Economist Crunches the Numbers appeared first on The Daily Signal.

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When you think “cells” you generally also think “microscopic”‚ but sometimes evolution likes to take things in a different direction. It’s hard to believe from looking at it‚ but this green alga‚ Caulerpa taxifolia is an organism composed of one single cell – the biggest one on the planet.Also known by the sinister moniker “killer alga”‚ these feathery green fronds are native to warm tropical waters in areas like the Caribbean coast‚ the Gulf of Guinea‚ and the northern Indian Ocean. Its vibrant color attracted aquarium owners who wanted to use it as a tank decoration‚ but that’s also where the problems began.It’s now considered an invasive species after an especially hardy and fast-growing strain – known as the aquarium strain – was accidentally leaked into the Mediterranean near Monaco in the 1980s. Exposure to ultraviolet light and chemical stressors had led to the genetic alterations responsible for its rapid growth.Since then‚ it has expanded its range far across the seabed‚ where it causes huge harm to native marine life. Not only does it outcompete other algae and seagrasses for food and light‚ many native fish aren’t able to safely consume it. C. taxifolia was also discovered off the coast of southern California in 2000‚ and it took a concerted effort from authorities over six years to eradicate it from the area. Invasive C. taxifolia‚ collected off France's Mediterranean coast.Image credit: anaxvp via iNaturalist (CC BY-NC 4.0)As well as being able to grow quickly and withstand cooler waters‚ the aquarium strain of C. taxifolia can achieve impressive sizes‚ with primary fronds sometimes reaching as far as 60-80 centimeters (24-31 inches) in the depths. And yet‚ it is still a single-celled organism. How is this possible&;#63;It’s all down to some very elegant organization. C. taxifolia‚ along with other similar siphonous algae‚ is an example of a coenocytic organism. Coenocytes contain multiple nuclei within their single cell‚ because nuclear division can take place without the accompanying formation of a new cell wall.  As the authors of a 2015 study explained‚ C. taxifolia gets around this lack of walled-off internal compartments by segregating groups of nuclei into chambers within its body. They discovered that gene transcripts related to different cellular functions were localized to specific regions within the massive cell‚ called “pseudo-organs”. The killer alga is not the only peculiar underwater resident that takes advantage of this arrangement. Check out the intriguing Ventricaria ventricosa‚ also known as bubble algae‚ sea grapes‚ or sailor’s eyeballs.Repeat after us: I must not eat the delicious green orb.Image credit: Haplochromis via Wikimedia Commons (public domain)Like C. taxifolia‚ V. ventricosa is coenocytic. Each one of those forbidden boba pearls is a single cell that you could hold in your hand (not that we recommend disturbing nature‚ as a rule)‚ but with lots of nuclei contained inside. Reaching diameters of up to 9 centimeters (3.5 inches)‚ it can’t quite compete with C. taxifolia for world’s largest single-celled organism‚ but it would certainly win an “algae masquerading as fruit” costume contest. So‚ that’s something. 

Imagine having fun in the bedroom‚ then one wrong move and the person with the penis may be crying out in pain rather than pleasure. Numerous injuries can occur during sexual activity and – one that is cringe-worthy is the snapping of the banjo string.What is a banjo string&;#63;The banjo string is another term for the penis frenulum. A frenulum is a small fold of connective tissue‚ and all people have one under the tongue and under the upper lip. They are also present on the genitals – specifically‚ on the clitoris‚ labia minora‚ and penis.What causes the frenulum to break&;#63;While the frenulum on the penis can be resilient‚ sometimes it can tear. Almost half of all cases of torn frenulum occur when people are having enthusiastic hanky panky. However‚ this injury can occur with any forceful motion of the foreskin‚ and this includes accidental injuries and vigorous masturbation sessions.Most people who get this injury know about it pretty quickly‚ as there can be a lot of pain and bleeding from the area (as you can imagine‚ a lot of blood is probably there if the person is… excited). The bleeding can often be stemmed by applying direct pressure on the area and a cold compress.What to do when your penis frenulum breaks&;#63;Often when these injuries occur‚ no medical intervention is needed‚ as the tissue can heal itself over time.While healing it is recommended that the person avoids sexual intercourse or masturbation‚ avoid any oil-based lube (water-based is preferred)‚ and not put on any condoms until the healing has finished as this can cause friction.Once healed‚ the scar tissue could be more rigid than it was before. If the tear does not heal‚ appears severe‚ or looks to be infected‚ then you should visit a doctor.What happens if there is recurrent tearing&;#63;Despite taking the recommended recovery period‚ some people may find that tearing is a regular occurrence.There are a few things that may be recommended by a medical practitioner:Frenuloplasty (this surgical procedure increases the length of the frenulum‚ which will ultimately reduce the risk of tearing)Frenectomy (this surgical procedure removes the frenulum)Circumcision (this surgical procedure removes the foreskin)  Stretching exercisesSteroids or creams to help stretch the frenulum over timeWhile tearing of the frenulum can appear terrifying‚ as it can resemble a scene out of Carrie‚ it is important to stay calm as once the bleeding has stopped – the injury often heals itself. If you are concerned at all‚ always visit your medical practitioner.  The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice‚ diagnosis‚ or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions. All “explainer” articles are confirmed by fact checkers to be correct at time of publishing. Text‚ images‚ and links may be edited‚ removed‚ or added to at a later date to keep information current.

A Belgian man charged with drink driving has had the case against him dismissed after proving that he has auto-brewery syndrome (ABS)‚ a rare condition that causes patients to brew alcohol inside their stomachs.In April 2022‚ the 40-year-old patient was charged after being breathalyzed by police‚ showing an alcohol level of 0.91 milligrams of alcohol per liter exhaled‚ well above Belgium's limit of 0.22 milligrams per liter‚ despite not drinking alcohol. He had previously been fined and had his license suspended in 2019 for drink driving‚ again without having drunk alcohol beforehand.The man‚ who has not been named‚ was not aware of his ABS until his latest arrest‚ AFP reports. Also known as gut fermentation syndrome‚ ABS causes the digestive system to produce enough ethanol to get you intoxicated. All people's guts produce a small amount of alcohol whilst digesting sugary and starchy food‚ but when certain bacteria (such as Klebsiella pneumonia‚ Enterococcus faecium‚ E. faecalis‚ and Citrobacter freundii) or yeast (including Saccharomyces cerevisiae and S. boulardii) are present in your system‚ a lot more ethanol can be produced. Several cases have been reported in recent years‚ usually involving baffled patients being arrested for drink driving after drinking nothing and eating something like bread or basmati rice.Patients are often told to avoid carbohydrates‚ vital to the brewing process whether it's in your stomach or the Guinness factory. There are a few treatments (including poop transplants) available for the few patients with the syndrome.&;quot;Anything that causes an imbalance between harmful and beneficial bacteria can potentially increase fermentation in the gut. Antibiotics should be avoided if possible. If a course of antibiotics is required‚ a plan should be in place to again test for fermenting pathogens and treat if necessary‚&;quot; a review on the topic explains. &;quot;In single and various combinations‚ dietary carbohydrate control‚ antifungal or antibiotic therapy‚ general antibiotic avoidance‚ and probiotics have all been reported as successful treatments. However‚ patients with long-term‚ chronic relapses may require fecal microbiota transplants.&;quot;Given the rarity of the syndrome‚ patients are generally unaware of what is going on‚ and generally report neurological symptoms‚ chronic fatigue‚ nausea‚ and other symptoms you would generally associate with being drunk if you had consumed alcohol beforehand.The Belgian man‚ now that charges have been dropped‚ has reduced his carbohydrate intake in order to reduce alcohol production inside his stomach.

On board the International Space Station (ISS)‚ scientists have discovered mutant bacteria that are not found on Earth. Extreme conditions on the orbital station forced these bacteria to mutate to survive‚ but now they may pose a threat to the health of astronauts‚ writes the Daily Mail. NASA scientists discovered that microorganisms were living among astronauts in 2019 during an extensive study of bacteria living on the ISS‚ but they have now identified the main bacterium as Enterobacter bugandensis. Scientists found 13 strains of bacteria in the air circulation system‚ simulator and bathroom of the ISS. The bacteria were carried into orbit with astronauts‚ and scientists believe their health is now at risk due to mutations in the microorganisms‚ causing them to become more resistant to antibiotics. A mutated form of the bacterium E. bugandensis (pictured) was discovered on the ISS that has developed resistance to drugs. Credit: Daily Mail These bacteria are associated with serious illnesses‚ such as a blood disease found in infants called neonatal sepsis. Enterobacter bugandensis can also lead to diseases of the urinary tract‚ skin and soft tissues‚ as well as endocarditis‚ an inflammation that occurs in the heart. According to scientists‚ extreme conditions on the ISS‚ such as higher levels of carbon dioxide‚ low gravity‚ and solar radiation‚ caused bacteria to mutate in order to survive. Scientists also believe that ventilation‚ humidity and air pressure could help mutant bacteria flourish. In order to identify the bacterial mutation‚ scientists conducted a more thorough study‚ and did not simply compare the known variant of the microorganism living on Earth with the variant found on the ISS. The researchers analyzed how bacterial genomes and functionality changed during adaptation to the extreme conditions of space‚ and then determined the population size of Enterobacter bugandensis on the ISS. They then studied the metabolic interactions of bacteria that benefit other microorganisms by helping them survive and grow. As the study showed‚ the conditions of space led to the fact that strains of bacteria mutated in such a way that they became genetically and functionally different from those that live on Earth. Scientists have found that mutant bacteria have completely different genes‚ which contributes to their resistance to different antibiotics. The post NASA discovered mutant bacteria on the ISS that are not found on Earth appeared first on Anomalien.com.

On a serene morning‚ a dog named Boston sat quietly tied to a park bench‚ his eyes reflecting a deep unease. He was discovered with a note revealing his past of neglect. The note spoke of his previous owner’s regret and hope for a better future‚ a touching plea for understanding and care. This was... The post Timid dog found tied to bench with note ‘explaining’ why he was left there appeared first on Animal Channel.

Michael Lind has written a provocative commentary‚ partly in response to John Judis and Ruy Texeira’s recent book‚ “Where Have All the Democrats Gone&;#63;” Lind would have us believe that the Democratic Party will do better in November than its naysayers suggest. Contrary to what Texiera-Judis maintain‚ namely that the Democrats have lost their traditional working-class base and may no longer be flourishing among racial minorities‚ the Dems supposedly have the wind at their back. The only reliable Republican constituencies‚ we are told‚ are white evangelicals and Mormons; and both groups are dwindling in number relative to other demographics.Lind also believes‚ correctly‚ that black people and Jews have been the most faithful Democratic constituencies‚ and he believes these loyalties are no less strong now than before. If Donald Trump gained in the last election about 31% of the Jewish vote (thanks largely to the Orthodox) and somewhere above 10% of the black vote‚ that’s what he will likely win this year. Among Hispanic voters‚ allegedly‚ Trump will not do much better than he did in 2020.Republicans shouldn’t get overconfident about their chances for victory. Also‚ black people and suburban women may be exceedingly hard to push rightward.Moreover‚ because of Democratic support among “secularized” Americans‚ especially those with leftist social views‚ Biden should easily prevail against Trump. Indeed‚ the only reason we’re giving Trump a chance‚ according to Lind‚ is that Biden is such a doddering candidate. But that won’t matter‚ given the Democrats’ far greater electoral strength.The reason I’m responding to this analysis is that I’ve received notes indicating that Lind and I have taken the same position. Neither one of us‚ it is believed‚ hold out hope for a Republican victory. Furthermore‚ both of us view the alliance of the woke Left‚ the media‚ and urban black people as too powerful for the Trump campaign to overcome.For those who believe that Lind and I are making the same prediction‚ let me assure them that they’re wrong. Unlike Lind‚ I don’t believe‚ barring lots of dirty tricks‚ the Democrats are inescapably headed for a November victory; or that the Democratic share of the votes of certain demographics is fixed in stone. What I have argued is that Republicans shouldn’t get overconfident about their chances for victory. Also‚ black people and suburban women‚ I have insisted‚ may be exceedingly hard to push rightward.At this point‚ it seems that Trump will do better among Hispanics than he did in 2020. He may also make inroads among non-Orthodox Jewish voters because of his unswervingly pro-Israel stance and because the Democrats are saddled with pro-Hamas voters.Trump also appears to be increasing his share of black male voters by engaging both the surging crime wave and economic issues. Although I’ve been deeply skeptical about the GOP’s ability to do well in urban black districts‚ there may be at least modest gains to be made here. Overall‚ I think that Texeira and Judis‚ both of whom are left-leaning Democrats‚ are describing the electoral situation of their party more accurately than Lind.Lind may not‚ however‚ be entirely off course if the Democrats can make abortion and other social issues work to their advantage among certain voting blocs.The problem here is that inflation‚ overrun borders‚ and high crime seem to be overshadowing wedge issues‚ and the Republicans at the national level are letting the abortion issue go‚ at least for now‚ since it has become for them electorally toxic. The social left has a definite PR advantage over its opponents in mobilizing those who favor unlimited abortion rights. But without the effective use of that issue‚ depicting Republicans convincingly as MAGA terrorists‚ and perhaps millions of mysterious ballots turning up in suspicious circumstances‚ it may be hard for the Democrats to win.What makes Lind’s presentation unnecessarily unsettling is his transparent contempt for socially traditional Christians. Who are all those Republicans he complains about who are “trying to repeal the New Deal” and who are taking “extremist positions on abortion”&;#63; In such hyperbolic fits‚ Lind gives away his own leftist politics. He also throws around the term “secularization‚” which seems for Lind a badge of social acceptability. It may be proof in his case that someone is not trying to return to the Eisenhower era. Obviously‚ letting go of traditional religious beliefs will affect political choices but may not be all-determining if other factors come into play. Those who don’t attend church services may still vote for Trump because they don’t like the surging crime rate or the Democrats’ discrimination against white males.Religiously skeptical voters may also be dismayed by what Biden has done to overwhelm us with costly‚ disruptive illegal aliens who are already being wooed as new Democratic voters.Lind may be understating the white Catholic support for Trump. According to a Pew Research survey‚ in 2020 white Catholics who attended Mass at least monthly gave Trump 63% of their votes; even non-Mass-attending white Catholics gave him 53%. Biden does have a problem with religious Catholics who are understandably appalled by his radical moral positions. In all probability‚ he’ll lose that demographic in November by a wide‚ wide margin.