'And then you can have some kind of enforcement mechanism'

A video shared on Instagram claims President Joe Biden’s sister, Valerie Biden Owens, is married to Stephen Owens, who purportedly owns Dominion Voting Systems. Verdict: False Multiple sources, including Biden Owens’ personal website, indicate she is married to attorney and businessman Jack Owens. According to Forbes, Stephen Owens is the managing director/co-founder of State Street […]

Here we go again with this guy

Move over McKenzie Scott, there’s a new philanthropic heiress in town. This is Marlene Engelhorn, a Millennial member of one of the richest families in Austria, and the proud owner of several receipts demonstrating how she gave away her inheritance. The heiress, whose forebearers founded the BSAF pharmaceutical company, and who would come to acquire […] The post Austrian Heiress Appoints Fifty Citizens to Give Away Her €25 Million Fortune appeared first on Good News Network.

Books cover reveal Revealing Embodied Exegesis: Transfeminine Cyberpunk Futures, edited by Ann LeBlanc A new anthology of cyberpunk and posthuman stories written by transfem authors. By Reactor | Published on June 20, 2024 Photo courtesy of Ann LeBlanc Comment 0 Share New Share Photo courtesy of Ann LeBlanc We’re thrilled to share the cover and table of contents for Embodied Exegesis: Transfeminine Cyberpunk Futures, a new anthology edited by Ann LeBlanc—publishing August 27th with Neon Hemlock. Embodied Exegesis is an anthology of cyberpunk and posthuman stories written by transfem authors. The included stories explore the limits of the genre: gender-affirming cybernetics, the literary surveillance state, transcendent hive-minds, a transgender coffee machine, and weaponized shitposts. The future of cyberpunk is trans, so stay tuned for an anthology of wild and weird stories exploring the limits of technological transformations of our bodies and minds. Cover art by Lyss Menold; Design by dave ring Table of Contents “The Repossession of Kevin’s Perfect Hair” by Lillian Boyd “Bespoke” by Elly Bangs “Right To Remain” by Riley Tao “Labelscar” by Anya DeNiro “The Woman of Water Dreams” by Ryka Aoki “Syndical Organization in Revolutionary Transition” by Izzy Wasserstein “The Majestic Art of Flesh” by Hailey Piper “Each of Us is All of Us” by TT Madden “The Wrong Body” by AGA Wilmot “Top 11 Reasons Being a Ghost is Better Than Being Human, Actually (via FizzRoll.net)” by Adeline Wong “A Canyon of Blood for the Normalest Man Alive” by Palimrya “The Missile Knows Where It Is” by Petra Skelton “My Robot Body” by Meghan Hyland “Residuals” by Jess Levine “Moonpool” by Coyote Dembicki “The Hundred Eyes” by Catherine Kim “Carseed” by Max Firehammer “A Notorious Intergalactic Criminal” by Maya Deane “ANIMA” by J Jennifer Espinoza Ann LeBlanc is a writer, editor, and woodworker. Her stories have been published in Strange Horizons, Clarkesworld, Escape Pod, and Baffling Magazine. Her debut novella, The Transitive Properties of Cheese, is forthcoming from Neon Hemlock Press in 2024. Ann is also the editor of Embodied Exegesis, an anthology of cyberpunk and posthuman stories by transfem authors. You can find her online at annleblanc.com. The post Revealing <i>Embodied Exegesis: Transfeminine Cyberpunk Futures</i>, edited by Ann LeBlanc appeared first on Reactor.

Books short fiction Five Slippery SFF Stories About Losing Memories and the Self Questions of memory and identity are always tricky, even without the intervention of magical and supernatural forces… By Ratika Deshpande | Published on June 20, 2024 Photo by Debby Hudson [via Unsplash] Comment 0 Share New Share Photo by Debby Hudson [via Unsplash] Human memory is one of my most favorite topics of study. Not only are the cognitive processes that influence it fascinating, but it also inspires the writer in me to ponder what it means to lose certain or all memories, and by extension, one’s self. Here are a few thought-provoking SFF stories that consider the importance and fragility of memory and identity… “The Thief of Memory” by Sunyi Dean Miquon’s village is dying. The drought is relentless. As a young, strong member of her village, she ought to go to the mountains and bring back water from the springs for her people. But the mountains are haunted by a colorless spirit that misleads people into making bargains that benefit only itself. Miquon knows she must be wary, take the water, and not be fooled by the spirit. That she remembers well. But memory is tricky, and she doesn’t remember everything she should, making her task difficult… A heartbreaking story about young people’s ideals, free will and the narratives in which we choose to believe, what becomes legend, and what’s regarded as the truth. “Time: Marked and Mended” by Carrie Vaughn Graff’s people are collectors of memories. They record, archive, and share people’s lives and experiences. When Graff discovers that a part of his memory is missing, he is devastated, for he’s been built to never lose a memory. The anomaly puts him in a crisis—who is he, as an individual and to his people, if he’s so irresponsible with his memories? And what impact will this loss have on the world? Given the reconstructive nature of human memory, Vaughn’s story makes for a particularly interesting take on a situation in which memory is difficult to erase. “The Stop After the Last Station” by A. T. Greenblatt Tito is on a subway train that will take him to the stop after the last station. It takes six silver coins and two and a half years to get there. He knows that when you get to the place, there’s very little of you left. As he waits to reach his destination, Tito struggles to remember. What happened during the journey? Why was he left with only one token? Who is he, exactly, and why has he come here, after all? A story about looking forward, told in reverse-chronological order and through an optimistic lens. “Circle of Memories” by Jessica Meats When Cara opens her eyes, she finds herself sitting across from a witch, who conducted the ritual that gave Cara some magic in exchange for a precious memory. What the memory was or why Cara needed the magic, she doesn’t remember anymore. She knows that the greedy have gone so far as to give up their own names for power, so she wants to take her time to decide what to do with her allotment of magic now that she has so much of it. Elner, the witch, tells Cara that she can stay with her while she decides. As the days pass, Cara witnesses how, when a person in need can’t provide the necessary magic, Elner uses her own memories to help and heal them. Cara is both touched and amazed by Elner’s continuous sacrifices for the good of others. But before long, it starts to become clear that there was more to the day Cara visited Elner and gave up her valuable memory. A clever, heartbreaking story. “The Last Truth” by AnaMaria Curtis Eri is a lockbreaker. Her craft doesn’t require any physical tools; only truths told to no one else, that can be used only once. Each truth takes away a bit of her memory; Eri doesn’t know which memories will disappear. While trying to steal for her contractor on a ship, a musician spots her and asks for her help. It is a small request and one that Eri doesn’t argue with much, for musicians have their own power that one must be wary of. But their encounter brings with it an opportunity, a hope for a better life and freedom from thievery and obligation—an opportunity that would mean risking Eri’s memory, if not her entire self. [end-mark] The post Five Slippery SFF Stories About Losing Memories and the Self appeared first on Reactor.

FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni hosted the world’s most powerful leaders in Italy last week, and reportedly made a few foes over a flap involving the removal of abortion language from the G7’s final declaration of priorities. But here in the United States, she’s winning praise from pro-life Americans, including former Vice President Mike Pence, founder of Advancing American Freedom. “When radical pro-abortion Biden administration officials demanded that the words ‘abortion’ and ‘reproductive rights’ be included in the G7’s official statement, you stood strong for life. By doing so, you stood not just for pro-life Italians, but for every pro-life citizen of the G7 countries,” Pence wrote in a letter to Meloni. Pence’s June 19 letter, shared exclusively with The Daily Signal, expresses his “gratitude and admiration for your uncompromising stand for life.” (See the full letter below.) The reported G7 dispute, which Meloni has downplayed, stemmed from language in last year’s G7 declaration from Hiroshima, Japan: We reaffirm our full commitment to achieving comprehensive [sexual and reproductive health and rights] for all, including by addressing access to safe and legal abortion and post-abortion care. This year’s G7 declaration was altered to remove any reference to abortion: We reiterate our commitments in the Hiroshima leaders’ communique to universal access to adequate, affordable, and quality health services for women, including comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights for all. The conservative and Catholic Meloni reportedly received pushback from President Joe Biden for removing the abortion language, according to the BBC. Biden, also a Catholic, has made abortion a centerpiece of his reelection campaign despite his church’s strong opposition. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni successfully scrapped references to “abortion” from the G7 meetings' statement, despite an attempt by French President Emmanuel Macron to include it in the communique. Info: Reuters pic.twitter.com/dJeCdvy4Zg— Sachin Jose (@Sachinettiyil) June 14, 2024 Faced with questions about the controversy, Meloni downplayed her differences with the other world leaders. “It usually happens that in the final documents of these sessions, things that are already taken for granted are not repeated,” she explained. “I sincerely believe that the controversy [around abortion] was totally contrived, and in fact, it is a controversy that did not exist in the summit, that did not exist in our discussions, precisely because there was nothing to argue about.” France and Canada were advocating for the abortion language, The Guardian reported. French President Emmanuel Macron, whose party faces a critical election in the coming weeks, took a swipe at Italy when asked about the G7 declaration. “You don’t have the same sensibilities in your country,” Macron said. “France has a vision of equality between women and men, but it’s not a vision shared by all the political spectrum.” Italy legalized abortion in 1978. Meloni’s mother almost aborted her, but made a last-minute decision to spare her life, the prime minister wrote in her autobiography. Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Condemns Abortion: Women “Miss Out on the Joy of Raising a Child” https://t.co/czSMGweGUv pic.twitter.com/TwxSkuTPkR— LifeNews.com (@LifeNewsHQ) March 3, 2024 Pence acknowledged Meloni’s personal experience in his letter. “I was deeply moved when I read your own pro-life story and learned that your mother seriously considered abortion before choosing life,” he wrote. “I know I speak for millions of pro-life Americans when I express my thanks for your strong pro-life stance and willingness to defend pro-life principles on the world stage.” During his time as a congressman, governor, and vice president, Pence championed the issue of life. Since leaving office, he’s remained a strong advocate for the pro-life cause, encouraging Republican politicians to stand firm and contrast their views with the position of Democrats. His letter takes a swipe at those “supposedly conservative politicians” who fail to do so. Read the full letter below. Pence-Letter-to-Giorgia-MeloniDownload President Joe Biden and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. (Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) The post Meloni’s Pro-Life Stand Sparks G7 Rift but Earns Pence’s Praise appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Who is This Dark Money Green Energy Group?

Some 40 Years Later: A Nation STILL at Risk

Today, June 20, is the solstice, the day with the longest day and shortest night in the Northern Hemisphere. It came a little earlier than usual (actually the earliest since the late 1700s) and it means that we are entering summer everywhere north of the Equator. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is the opposite.Cultures have been marking this celestial event for millennia and the most famous site for this is without doubt Stonehenge. The megalithic monument sitting on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire was built about 5,000 years ago, and for centuries it was a place of massive importance.You do not bring enormous stones for tens of miles – and the smaller ones for hundreds of miles – and build this incredible structure if it did not matter. The circle of stones and some of the stones outside of it are organized to align with the cycle of the Sun.“Stonehenge is built on a solstice alignment, a solar alignment. What happens is that at what we call Midsummer, the Sun rises in the northeastern horizon, comes up on the side of the ‘Heel Stone’ and shines right into the centre here, and lands on the stone that we know as the ’Altar Stone’,” Heather Sebire, senior property curator of Stonehenge, told IFLScience.           It is unclear if the "Altar Stone" ever stood up like a modern altar. It’s a sandstone, different from the others, and it sits almost in the middle but on the axis of the solstice alignment. It clearly played a role in the ceremonies at Stonehenge, although its whole function is yet to be understood. Researchers are also not sure where it came from, with geologists looking at different potential sources.Sebire explained how we have learned so much about Stonehenge and the people that used it, but there is still so much more to discover. One current investigation is the possibility that there is also an alignment with the Moon at a period called the lunar standstill, which is happening right now. Stonehenge is actually going to livestream the moonrise on June 21, 2024.During the summer solstice, many thousands of people get into the stone circle to see the sunrise, continuing a millennia-old tradition. And while the midsummer solstice mattered, researchers believe that the alignment with the midwinter solstice could have been equally if not more important. Where the Altar Stone is, you can watch the Sun during the winter solstice setting perfectly between the stones.“At midwinter, if you stand in the center, you could have watched the Sun setting down to the southwest horizon,” Sebire continued. “ It was probably more important. Because they would have known it was like the turning of the year, and the days would get longer.”It is not surprising that Stonehenge has captured the imagination of so many, trying to glimpse into the lives and rituals of the ancient people who built and used this monument.