New York City Democratic Mayor Eric Adams generated controversy this week during an interview with a local television station when he said that one of the things that makes New York City the “greatest city on the globe” is the possibility people could experience a terrorist attack there. The moment happened during an interview with host Dan Mannarino on WPIX-TV’s “PIX on Politics” when Adams was asked to describe 2023 in one word. “Mr. Mayor‚ we’ve come to the end of what was a very eventful 2023‚” Mannarino said. “So when you look at the totality of the year‚ if you had to describe it‚ and it’s tough to do‚ in one word‚ what would that word be? And tell me why.” “New York‚” Adams responded. “This is a place where every day you wake up‚ you could experience everything from a plane crashing into our Trade Center to a person who’s celebrating a new business that’s open. This is a very‚ very complicated city‚ and that’s why it’s the greatest city on the globe.” WATCH: Mr. Mayor‚ describe 2023 in one word. "Ugh‚ New York. This is a place where everyday you wake up‚ you could experience everything from a plane crashing into our Trade Center to a person celebrating a new business that's open…And that's why it's the greatest city on the globe." pic.twitter.com/0jjv9DMzJ6 — Just one person (@Newyorkist) December 18‚ 2023 The September 11‚ 2001‚ terrorist attacks was the largest terror attack in world history as nearly 3‚000 Americans were murdered on that day. The attacks spurred decades of war in the Middle East that cost trillions of dollars and thousands of American lives. Online‚ people expressed shock over Adams’ bizarre comment. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP “This may go down as the worst answer of 2023‚” said sports writer Jack McGuire. Washington Post reporter Josh Dawsey wrote‚ “I’m not sure that selling New York as a place where you can experience 9/11 is the best argument that can be made for the world’s greatest city…” “Seriously‚ what?” asked writer Ian Miles Cheong. Related: FBI Launches Criminal Probe Into Whether NYC Mayor Adams Received Illegal Donations From Turkey

Imagine departing your lovely suburban home one morning en route to work. The sight before your eyes stops you in your tracks. No one will believe what you saw without video proof. It’s the holiday season‚ and everyone decorates their homes with cheer. This gentleman’s neighbor chose an inflatable reindeer to display on his lawn. One of the other neighbors took offense and attacked the reindeer! It’s true. However‚ the other neighbor was a BEAR‚ and it was attacking the reindeer! Wait… what? You read that correctly. A bear is attacking an inflatable reindeer. The Battle Royale that followed was epic! The entire knock-down‚ drag-out fight was posted on TikTok for our viewing pleasure. Image from TikTok. As you can see‚ Santa is standing near‚ totally unaware of the scene unfolding behind him as the bear is attacking one of his reindeer. At first‚ the reindeer seems to have the upper hand. There is a huge size difference‚ and the reindeer towers over the “tiny” bear. But the bear is persistent and manages to knock the reindeer down. In a show of submission‚ the reindeer appears just to lay there. Image from TikTok. The bear begins attacking the torso section with the head and those awful antlers seemingly subdued. We’re not sure what his ultimate goal is‚ but he does appear to have a systematic approach. Image from TikTok. This can’t be pleasant for the reindeer. The attacking bear tries to take a bite out of its nether region! Image from TikTok. Is The Bear Done Attacking The Reindeer? The bear stopped attacking the reindeer for a moment to gather his thoughts. The reindeer took the opportunity to reinflate. Staring in disbelief‚ the bear is confused by this undying opponent. Image from TikTok. The bear had a bear friend watching from a distance. We can almost hear that second bear saying‚ “Dude‚ give it up.” The bear attacking the reindeer takes a look as it fills with air again. The end of the battle was near. The bear swiped at the poor reindeer one final time before turning tail and running for the woods. And what did we learn from this little tale of wilderness suburban survival? We learned that wherever the neighbor got that reindeer‚ they should use this video clip as advertising! That is one sturdy‚ inflatable reindeer! If you enjoyed this morning’s Battle Royale‚ please share it with your friends. I must figure out what brand of reindeer that is because the squirrels in my neighborhood have ruined three Baby Yoda Santas! Watch the entire battle below. @pubity The bear really accepted defeat at the end #Pubity (donna hargett via @ViralHog) ♬ original sound – Pubity You can find the source of this story’s featured image here. The post Bear Takes On Inflatable Reindeer… Battle Ends In A Draw At Best. appeared first on InspireMore.

'Profoundly inappropriate'

'The defendant deprived them of normal childhoods for his own depraved sexual gratification'

It seems‚ no matter what official measure is used in 2023 to judge the U.S. economy‚ the numbers look really good for consumers. The latest positive news comes in the form of a historic milestone reached on the stock market. The Dow Jones Industrial Average‚ which is an average of 30 of the largest U.S. […] The post U.S. Stock Market Hits Record High as Dow Jones Closes Over 37‚000 for the First Time appeared first on Good News Network.

Tesla 'Recall' Is Nothing of the Sort

If you are someone who has a uterus and menstruates then bleeding between periods can be a bit unsettling‚ however‚ there are many different reasons for this happening.From vaginal discharge to bleached patches on your underwear‚ there always seems to be something being expelled from down there that makes you scratch your head. Now‚ there may be another thing – intermenstrual bleeding.It should be noted‚ that this type of bleeding is different from irregular periods‚ when the gap between two periods is less than 21 days or more than 35 days.The average menstrual cycle normally lasts around 28 days – during this type‚ a lot of changes happen. The first part of the cycle is called the follicular phase and consists of the rise of estrogen‚ this causes fluid-filled sacs in the ovaries‚ called follicles‚ to develop. Often these follicles house immature eggs. Typically‚ there is one dominant follicle that is bigger and healthier than the rest‚ and when the luteinizing hormone (LH) peaks‚ the dominant follicle releases an egg.This egg gets vacuumed up by a fallopian tube and it slowly travels down toward the uterus. The uterus is a lovely‚ padded area that is great for an egg and is a lush environment made up of many layers of the endometrium. The luteal phase prepares the uterus by increasing the progesterone to thicken the lining. If no fertilization happens‚ then the body sheds the lining through a period‚ which typically last three to five days.The complexity of the menstrual cycle.Image credit: Pikovit/ Shutterstock.comHormonal fluctuationsAs the human body is a big ball of wibbly wobbly hormony stuff‚ hormonal fluctuations can cause unexpected bleeding. These fluxes are the ones that like to make you cry at 11 pm on a weekday over a bowl of popcorn while watching Marley &; Me (if you know‚ you know).So‚ it is not a surprise that if your hormones are off balance‚ it can also cause some bleeding. Some conditions may make people more prone to this‚ like polycystic ovaries‚ endometriosis‚ menopause‚ or thyroid gland issues.Birth control pillsWhen people start hormonal contraception‚ it is common to get irregular bleeding in the first few months. This can also be called breakthrough bleeding‚ and it is due to the body adjusting to the different hormones. Also‚ if a pill is missed in the course‚ this can cause some spotting.The emergency contraceptive pill also has a side effect of spotting as it causes a change in the hormone levels.  Miscarriage or abortionMiscarriage‚ abortion‚ or ectopic pregnancy can all cause bleeding.Changes to the vaginaDifferent changes can cause bleeding from the vagina‚ such as injury‚ dryness (similar to having dry lips and getting a split lip)‚ and cervical ectropion or erosion.Noncancerous growthsSome benign growths in the womb can cause bleeding‚ for example‚ uterine polyps or fibroids. Polyps are usually benign and can attach to the inner wall of the uterus and expand into the uterus. They can range from a few millimeters to a few centimeters. Fibroids are growths that develop in or around the womb and are made up of muscle and fibrous tissue.Cancerous growthsCancers such as cervical‚ womb‚ and vaginal can also cause unexpected bleeding. Cervical cancer is checked for during cervical screening‚ whereas womb is more common in post-menopausal people.   Some disorders and diseasesSome bleeding disorders like Von Willebrand disease can cause spotting. This is an inherited bleeding condition that can disrupt blood clotting. This condition can also cause heavy bleeding or bleeding during or after labor.Sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia‚ gonorrhea‚ and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) can also cause spotting.StressWhat causes corals to stress out? Current events… but on a serious note‚ corals can change color or die when stressed out. While humans are a tad more complicated than these colonial marine invertebrates‚ we still experience weird bodily functions when stressed out. Some people get anxiety-induced irritable bowel syndrome and some intermenstrual bleeding.Implantation bleedingTen to 14 days after conception‚ if an egg has been successfully fertilized‚ then a person can have implantation bleeding. This is where the egg buries into the lining to anchor itself for a nine-month journey‚ and the uterus can shed parts of the endometrial lining.Overall‚ if you have any unexpected or unusual bleeding between your periods and you are concerned‚ always consult with your general 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.

Many families across the world will be busy decorating for the holiday season. Whether that includes hanging fairy lights‚ lighting candles‚ or decorating a Christmas tree. One family in Lexington‚ Kentucky‚ even got a bonus on their tree this year‚ as it came with a free owl.Michele White said that the family had decorated their tree as usual and had had the tree in their busy living room for four days before they noticed their little visitor.  “I have three dogs‚” White told AP News. “We use this room nonstop: watch TV; the kitchen’s right here; no indication.”The star inside their Christmas tree turned out to be a little owl. Bobby Hayes‚ who was working as a carpet cleaner for his own company Magic Carpet Cleaning‚ was at the family's home and noticed the Christmas tree begin to move as he plugged in some equipment.     IFLScience is not responsible for content shared from external sites.The owl was literally sitting on a lower limb here‚” Hayes said. “It crawled up into the tree further‚” he added‚ “It took me several minutes to even find it.”After taking a few pictures to show to Michele‚ Hayes was able to capture the owl and release it safely back outside. The owl is thought to be an eastern screech owl (Megascops asio)‚ a common species all year round‚ found in woods and suburban areas where they will frequently use nest boxes. Despite their name‚ they have a call more like a soft trill or whinny than a screech‚ according to the National Audubon Society. This is far from the first incidence of mystery guests in Christmas trees. In 2020‚ the Rockefeller tree was host to a saw-whet owl (Aegolius acadicus) that had traveled over 300 kilometers (186 miles) from its home in Oneonta in New York State. And‚ of course‚ if you find these growths on your Christmas tree‚ do not bring it indoors!

After successful preclinical studies in mice‚ researchers have this week begun the first human trials of a hormone-free male birth control pill.YCT-529‚ the drug being tested‚ is the first of its kind to reach Phase I clinical trials. Whilst scientists have been working away for decades in an attempt to create contraceptive options for sexually active men beyond condoms and vasectomies‚ those that have reached later clinical trial stages have been hormonal. Disrupting hormones can come with all sorts of unpleasant side effects‚ such as mood changes and acne‚ making YCT-529 a potentially far more appealing option. “The world is ready for a male contraceptive agent and delivering one that’s hormone-free is simply the right thing to do given what we know about the side effects women have endured for decades from The Pill‚” said Gunda Georg‚ who led the development of the pill alongside YourChoice Therapeutics‚ in a statement.The new pill works by inhibiting retinoic acid receptor-alpha (RAR-alpha). This is a protein in a family of nuclear receptors that bind to retinoic acid‚ a derivative of vitamin A that plays a role in sperm formation. By blocking this pathway‚ YCT-529 consequently prevents sperm production.In preclinical studies conducted in mice‚ this approach proved to drastically drop sperm count and was 99 percent effective at preventing pregnancy. Significantly‚ it was also demonstrated to be safe‚ and its effect on fertility reversible.The researchers will be hoping to achieve that same level of success in human studies. The Phase I trial aims to investigate the efficacy of the pill‚ as well as its safety and tolerability in two cohorts of eight male volunteers. It’s estimated to finish around mid-2024 and even if all goes according to plan‚ you won’t necessarily be getting YCT-529 from your doctor anytime soon; further trials and clinical approval can take years.Nevertheless‚ if it does arrive‚ there’s likely to be a captive audience – according to a YouGov survey‚ a third of sexually active men in Britain would be willing to take a male pill and other estimates put the figure as high as 82.3 percent. Not to mention‚ there’s money to be made‚ with estimates putting the value of a new male contraceptive method at between $40 to $200 billion.“While significant work lies ahead‚ we believe YCT-529’s first human study is a significant step toward a future where both men and women have the power to decide and control contraceptive use‚ pregnancy‚ and childbearing‚” said Heather Vahdat‚ executive director of the Male Contraceptive Initiative. “A kind of health equity we believe is long overdue.” 

The man whose research sparked a global tree-planting frenzy has urged world leaders to end their obsession with reforestation‚ arguing that the practice may be doing more harm than good. Speaking at COP28 in Dubai earlier this month‚ ecologist Thomas Crowther said his initial findings had been misinterpreted and seized upon to support “greenwashing” initiatives‚ while insisting that the best way to tackle the climate crisis is to focus on the protection and restoration of existing forests.In 2019‚ Crowther and his colleagues published a paper in which they suggested that planting an extra trillion trees worldwide could remove around two-thirds of the carbon that humans have pumped into the atmosphere. In the wake of the media hype generated by the study‚ Crowther became chief scientific advisor for the United Nations’ Trillion Trees Campaign‚ while also taking up an advisory role for a similar initiative launched by the World Economic Forum.Companies and governments around the world jumped on the bandwagon‚ promising to offset their emissions by planting huge amounts of trees‚ yet scientists were quick to pour skepticism on the whole idea. Soon after Crowther’s study came out‚ a critique was published that showed how his team had massively overstated the carbon-storing potential of a trillion new trees.This was followed by another study that highlighted two of the big drawbacks to mass tree-planting - namely‚ that many of these trees won’t survive‚ and those that do will take decades to reach their carbon-capturing potential‚ by which time it may be too late to make any difference. These concerns are supported by the failures of national tree-planting initiatives around the world‚ including a project in Turkey that saw 11 million new saplings planted‚ only for the majority to die within three months due to a lack of rainfall.Another study published in 2021 found that a 50-year reforestation campaign in northern India had failed to increase the proportion of canopy cover‚ as young trees were often planted in poor soil or trampled or eaten by animals.Scientists have also pointed out that it’s no good simply plonking a load of trees in the wrong spot. Even before Crowther’s trillion trees pledge hit the headlines‚ researchers had grown concerned that millions of hectares of natural grasslands and savannahs had been earmarked for reforestation‚ despite the fact that these ecosystems had been devoid of trees for millions of years.Adding trees to these landscapes can have disastrous consequences‚ leading to a catastrophic loss of biodiversity as habitats are destroyed while also triggering massive wildfires. Furthermore‚ planting trees in bald regions can darken the Earth’s surface‚ thus increasing global temperatures by causing more of the sun’s radiation to be absorbed rather than reflected.Most alarmingly of all‚ however‚ Crowther says that his idea for a trillion trees has been misconstrued as a green light to keep carbon emissions high. By promising to “offset” these emissions by planting trees‚ organizations have been able to avoid tackling the main problem‚ which is of course the need to reduce emissions.“If no one had ever said‚ ‘Plant a trillion trees‚’ I think we’d have been in a lot better space‚” Crowther told Wired. To try and set the record straight‚ Crowther has co-authored a new study which argues that the best way to remove carbon from the atmosphere is to ensure the preservation of existing forests. This‚ he says‚ can best be achieved by investing in the Indigenous communities that have acted as custodians of the natural world for thousands of years.The new study from Crowther and colleagues is published in Nature.[H/T: Wired]