The leftist Atlantic actually victim-blamed Americans for the crushing high prices they’re experiencing. In the same breath‚ the outlet billed President Joe Biden’s ridiculously bad economy as the cat’s pajamas. “Inflation Is Your Fault‚” read the condescending headline by Atlantic staff writer Annie Lowrey. She chalked Americans’ misery simply up to simple consumer overspending‚ opting to just talk down to the plebeians. Lowrey‚ doing damage control for Biden‚ proceeded to scold Americans: “People hate inflation‚ just not enough to spend less: This is one of the central tensions of today’s economy‚ in which things are going great yet everyone is miserable. And in some ways‚ Americans have nobody to blame but themselves.” [Emphasis added.] She didn’t bother mentioning Biden’s name at all in her piece until the last paragraph of her article‚ and it was only to make excuses for his administration’s outrageous‚ inflation-stimulating spending policies. She appeared to hinge her entire argument on consumer spending rising 0.2 percent in October‚ glossing over the fact that this was a significant 0.5 percentage-point slowdown from the 0.7 percent increase in September and was the “slowest increase since May‚” according to The Wall Street Journal.  If “everyone is miserable‚” how could things be “going great”? CBS News reported based on analysis by the Joint Economic Committee Republicans that Americans need an extra $11‚400 today “just to afford the basics.” CNBC also recently analyzed that the increases in consumer expenditures constitute “doom spending” as a coping mechanism to deal with the increasingly insurmountable high cost of living‚ even if it is detrimental to them. But Lowrey attempted to have her cake and eat it too. She attempted to make Biden’s economy seem stellar by pointing to things like wage increases while simultaneously shaming Americans for their persistent economic struggles. In one paragraph‚ she bleated that “[y]ou would think‚ with prices as high as they are‚ that Americans would have tempered their enthusiasm for shopping of late.” But she proceeded to talk out of both sides of her mouth by making it seem like Americans are living the good life: It should be good news that Americans are better off than they were pre-pandemic. It should be good news that people can afford more‚ even if prices are high. But then why is everyone so mad about prices? Lowrey can’t have it both ways. Either Biden’s economy is great in her mind or it isn’t‚ and reality clearly proves the latter. She even had the audacity to claim that “Average wages have risen faster than average prices.” This is a blatant falsehood. Bloomberg News conceded that while Americans did see pay raises since 2020‚ “much of those gains have been gobbled up by inflation. Some of the fastest wage increases in decades have left the average American largely no better off than before.”  [Emphasis added.] Bloomberg News also pointed out Nov. 27 that housing affordability is currently at its “worst on record‚” something Lowrey didn’t bother to mention. In addition‚ credit card debt is also over $1 trillion‚ another disaster “record” that Lowrey didn’t disclose. “Better off‚” eh Lowrey? Lowrey concluded her screed by injecting Americans with an overdose of gaslighting: People want to blame Joe Biden for their bills. They want to accuse stores of gouging them (though the evidence for “greedflation” is scant). The strange truth is that most people really are in a more comfortable position‚ even if they’re not happy about it. It’s not like a weak economy‚ stagnant wages‚ crummy consumer spending‚ and cheaper stuff would be better‚ after all. Conservatives are under attack. Contact The Atlantic at (202) 266-6000 and demand it denounce Lowry’s anti-American‚ economic-illiterate screed.  

Prepping for any circumstance requires attention in a range of areas. It can be a lot to juggle. Fortunately‚ there are some prep elements that are effective in and of themselves while also supporting other prepping needs. The post The Symbiosis of Financial Resilience and Prepping appeared first on Survivopedia.

We’re now living in “Minority Report.” Japan’s National Police are set to embark on a terrifying experiment involving using advanced AI-powered security cameras to pre-empt major crimes. These AI-enhanced cameras will specialize in machine-learning pattern recognition across three distinct categories: behavior detection for spotting suspicious conduct‚ object detection for identifying weapons‚ and intrusion detection to safeguard restricted areas. This initiative is expected to roll out within this fiscal year — ending March 2024 — after the shocking assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the subsequent attempted attack on current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Such high-profile crimes‚ often committed by so-called "lone offenders" — individuals disassociated from society — have prompted Japan’s police to explore crime-prevention strategies.Proponents assert that the AI’s "behavior detection" algorithm can learn by observing patterns indicative of suspicious activities‚ such as repetitive‚ anxious glances. Previous attempted AI-aided security has homed in on behaviors like restlessness and fidgeting‚ which may indicate unease or guilt. This is a worrying leap forward in what is possible for modern security agencies.The Chinese model goes global From ubiquitous police cameras on street corners to online monitoring and censorship‚ the Chinese population is constantly under surveillance. Now‚ a new generation of technology is delving into the vast pool of data gathered from daily activities‚ aiming to predict crimes and protests before they occur. However‚ these predictive systems aren’t just targeting those with a criminal record; they are also used to identify vulnerable groups‚ including ethnic minorities and individuals with a history of mental illness.This cutting-edge technology relies on algorithms that sift through data‚ seeking patterns and deviations that could indicate potential threats. While these algorithms are anathema to many in the West‚ they’re being heralded as triumphs in China.Reports detail instances where the technology flagged suspicious behavior‚ leading to investigations and uncovering fraud and pyramid schemes. However‚ these technologies extend far beyond surveillance. They are a powerful weapon for a society seeking to maintain near-total social control over the populace. China’s focus on maintaining social stability is unwavering‚ and any perceived threat to it is aggressively silenced. Under the regime of President Xi Jinping‚ the security state has become more centralized‚ deploying technology to quell unrest‚ enforce strict COVID-19 lockdowns‚ and curb dissent. Unfortunately‚ China appears to be the model for leaders like Justin Trudeau and others. Policing the homelandDescribed as a groundbreaking innovation by Time magazine in 2011‚ predictive policing has been quietly rolled out across the U.S. Numerous police departments in the country are experimenting with predictive software‚ envisioning a future where law enforcement could foresee and thwart crimes before they unfold. Developers tout this technology as a means to eliminate human bias‚ enhance the precision of policing‚ and optimize resource allocation. This approach gained momentum with substantial federal grants directed toward smart policing solutions. The LAPD‚ led by Police Chief William Bratton‚ spearheaded one of the initial trials in 2009 with $3 million in federal funding. The goal was to predict crime-prone areas and deploy officers pre-emptively to deter criminal activities. The involvement of respected figures like Bratton lent credibility to the technology‚ leading to its adoption by other departments nationwide. By 2014‚ a survey revealed that 38% of 200 surveyed departments were using predictive policing‚ and 70% were planning to implement it in the coming years.Using data to find high-crime areas and deploy more resources is a reasonable use of data. However‚ with the rapid advancements of AI technology and the universal tracking of our devices‚ how long before the regime turns this pre-crime tech loose on the populace? We’re going to have to grapple with these questions because the AI is quickly reaching “Black Mirror” horror levels of surveillance.

Pennsylvania's governor ripped into an anti-Israel mob that appeared outside a Jewish-owned falafel shop in Philadelphia‚ claiming that the owner was supportive of genocide. The anti-Israel protest is the latest in a slew of anti-Jewish protests that have spread across the U.S. since Hamas' devastating attack against the Jewish state on October 7.The pro-Palestinian mob reportedly appeared outside Goldie's location in Center City‚ which is owned by Mike Solomonov‚ an Israeli-born man who previously won the James Beard Award‚ according to the Daily Mail. The mob chanted: "Goldie‚ Goldie you can't hide‚ we charge you with genocide."Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro caught wind of the protest and decided to take his thoughts to X‚ denouncing the behavior. "Tonight in Philly‚ we saw a blatant act of antisemitism — not a peaceful protest. A restaurant was targeted and mobbed because its owner is Jewish and Israeli. This hate and bigotry is reminiscent of a dark time in history." — (@) Shapiro went on to say that he had "communicated tonight with @Mike_Solomonov and his team at Goldie to share our support and Lori and I look forward to breaking bread there with them again soon." — (@) Sunday's mob threats came at the same time that students at the University of Pennsylvania called for an "intifada‚" which is an uprising against the Jewish state. The use of the term "intifada" is not unique to the protesters at Penn. It has also been used by protesters at Harvard University‚ which is currently under investigation for anti-Semitic rhetoric that has been present on campus since Hamas terrorists slaughtered 1‚200 people in Israel. An alum of Harvard who has called for a broader investigation by the Department of Education said: "During the Second Intifada‚ for example‚ Palestinian terrorists murdered over 1‚000 Jews and Israelis‚ including through suicide-bomb attacks on buses and restaurants.""And‚ as the House of Representatives recently acknowledged in a bipartisan resolution‚ ‘the phrase "from the river to the sea" … is widely recognized as a genocidal call to violence to destroy the state of Israel and its people to replace it with a Palestinian state extending from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea.'"Penn‚ an Ivy League institution‚ is now facing a civil rights complaint after it was characterized as a "magnet for anti-Semites." — (@) The Daily Pennsylvanian reported that the school was under investigation by the Department of Education in mid-November. A spokesperson for the university said‚ "The University is taking clear and comprehensive action to prevent‚ address‚ and respond to antisemitism‚ with an action plan anchored in the National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism.""President Magill has made clear antisemitism is vile and pernicious and has no place at Penn; the University will continue to vigilantly combat antisemitism and all forms of hate.”Anti-Israel sentiment has become such a concerning issue that the Department of Education has launched investigations into "Cornell University‚ Columbia University‚ Lafayette College‚ Wellesley College‚ The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art‚ and the Maize Unified School District — a K-12 district located in Kansas‚" according to the Daily Pennsylvanian. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Two of the three individuals accused of burning a Wendy's to the ground during the 2020 BLM riots have pleaded guilty. For reducing the business to ash and rubble‚ Chisom Kingston and the woman whom Rayshard Brooks indicated was his "girlfriend‚" Natalie Hanna White‚ will have to pay a $500 fine and complete 150 hours of community service. What's the background? On June 12‚ Atlanta police attempted to arrest 27-year-old Rayshard Brooks at a Wendy's drive-thru in Atlanta after he blew over the legal limit on a Breathalyzer test. However‚ Brooks struck APD officer Devan Brosnan‚ grabbed the officer's taser‚ and attempted to flee. When APD officer Garrett Rolfe gave chase‚ Brooks took aim at Rolfe with the stolen taser and fired‚ ultimately prompting a defensive and definitive response from Rolfe. The officers were initially slapped with a litany of charges by former Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard. However‚ a Georgia special prosecutor ultimately found in August 2022 that both officers "acted as reasonable officers would under the facts and circumstances of the events of that night." Special prosecutor Peter Skandalakis stated‚ "Both acted in accordance with well-established law and were justified in the use of force regarding the situation." While clarity ultimately prevailed‚ it was evidently in short supply on June 13‚ 2020 — not only because the anti-police narrative had been set following George Floyd's death in Minneapolis the previous month‚ but because liberal publications repeatedly claimed police had killed "an unarmed black man‚" notwithstanding the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's clear indication that Brooks had been wielding an officer's stun gun. Torching the burger joint Rioters mobbed the Wendy's on University Avenue in southwest Atlanta and shutdown a nearby interstate the evening of June 13. In addition to torching cars in the area and clashing with police‚ rioters set the restaurant ablaze. WAGA-TV reported that by 9:30 p.m.‚ flames could be seen shooting out of the restaurant. The fire raged for over 45 minutes until firefighters‚ protected by a line of police officers‚ were able to put it out. When asked about the inferno at the time‚ one of the rioters‚ told CNN‚ "We burned this one specifically because of what happened here[.] ... This goes back to what our mission is‚ making sure that there is justice served for the person that died over here at this Wendy's." According to Atlanta Fire Department officials‚ the Wendy's fire was started in multiple locations using various incendiary devices. Footage shot moments before the fire began consuming the building showed a woman‚ later identified as White‚ ignite an aerosol can while others smashed the restaurant's windows. White was arrested in June 2020. The following month‚ Kingston and arsonist John Wesley Wade were also arrested. Indictments and pleas White‚ Kingston‚ and Wade were indicted in January 2022. The indictment listed two counts of first-degree arson and a count of conspiracy to commit arson in the first degree‚ reported WSB-TV. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis said at the time‚ "I think this indictment is particularly important. It sends a message that we are a community that supports protesting. We certainly know it's one of your constitutional rights but what we do not tolerate is violent protest." "It is unacceptable to burn down a building in our community even in the name of a protest‚" added Willis. Ahead of their trial this week‚ Kingston and White entered negotiated guilty pleas‚ according to Fulton County court documents. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that they both pleaded guilty to the aforementioned charges and each received five years on probation and $500 fines. John Wesley Wade‚ who has been held in federal prison‚ is set to go to trial Tuesday over the Wendy's arson. While Wade faces the same charges as Brooks' apparent girlfriend and Kingston‚ he previously pleaded guilty to federal arson charges‚ having torched five postal trucks in Atlanta after the Wendy's went up in smoke. Atlanta protesters burn a Wendy's after police shooting youtu.be Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) shocked Americans on Sunday by asserting that we must be "balanced" in our response to Hamas using rape as a weapon of war.During an interview on CNN's "State of the Union‚" host Dana Bash confronted Jayapal over the fact that progressives have been "downright silent" on the atrocities that Hamas committed against Israeli women and girls in their Oct. 7 attack.At first‚ Jayapal downplayed progressives' silence‚ which forced Bash to press harder. The CNN anchor asked Jayapal if she has condemned Hamas specifically for what the terrorist group did to women. Jayapal claimed she has‚ and then she immediately tried to steer the conversation in a different direction‚ criticizing Israel and suggesting the country is guilty of committing war crimes."With respect‚ I was just asking about the women‚ and you turned it back to Israel. I'm asking you about Hamas‚" Bash shot back."I already answered your question‚ Dana‚" Jayapal snarked. "I said it's horrific. I think that rape is horrific. Sexual assault is horrific. I think that it happens in war situations. Terrorist organizations like Hamas obviously are using these as tools‚" the progressive Democrat continued. "However‚ I think we have to be balanced about bringing in the outrages against Palestinians."After demanding that critics be "balanced‚" Jayapal again criticized Israel‚ relying on Hamas' unverifiable claims about civilian casualties."It's horrible‚ but you don't see Israeli soldiers raping Palestinian women‚" Bash fired back.At no point in the interview did Jayapal specifically condemn Hamas' use of rape in their attack. The closest she came was her broad denouncement of sexual assault and her observation that Hamas uses it as a "tool." Hear Jayapal's response after Bash says some have been silent about Hamas' use of sexual violence www.youtube.com Jayapal's comments predictably earned outage from conservatives. But‚ perhaps surprisingly‚ Democrats and media personalities also voiced alarm at Jayapal's remarks."Hamas terrorists raped Israeli women and girls. The only ‘balanced’ approach is to condemn sexual violence loudly‚ forcefully and without exceptions. Outrageous for anyone to 'both sides' sexual violence‚" Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) responded."I should not have to say this in 2023 but here we are: RAPE IS RAPE. Do not minimize‚ excuse‚ 'balance' or 'both sides' sexual assault — that is victim blaming we have spent decades trying to undo in the laws‚ the courts and the hearts and minds of the people‚" said Christine Pelosi‚ daughter of Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)."This is beyond f***ed up. Every single one of these Democratic primaries of the ‘progressives’ is going to be justified‚" Jessica Tarlov‚ the resident liberal commentator at Fox News‚ reacted.CNN anchor Bianna Golodryga said‚ "@RepJayapal‚ most wars don’t feature premeditated rape as part of the war plan. Individual acts of rape from lack of discipline‚ which tragically does occur in war‚ is different than 'preconceived and premeditated' rapes‚ which as one leading expert told me was Hamas’ plan."Golodryga‚ moreover‚ pointed out that Jayapal has not released a statement that specifically condemns Hamas for their use of sexual violence on Oct. 7. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Gal Gadot has come out and called on the United Nations to demand that Hamas release every woman who was abducted on October 7‚ when Hamas slaughtered 1‚200 people and abducted 240 others. The "Wonder Woman" actress‚ who was born in Israel‚ took to Instagram to voice her opinion on the women who were taken hostage by Hamas in early October‚ writing: "The world has failed the women of October 7th.""We claim we stand against rape‚ violence against women. We will not let women be victimized and then silenced. We say we believe women. Stand with women. Speak out for women." See on Instagram “On October 7th‚ the world witnessed Hamas carrying out its violent plans in real time. Within hours of the October 7th attack‚ the first blood-chilling video emerged of Shani Louk being paraded naked and defiled by her proud assailants‚” Gadot wrote on the social media platform‚ referring to Shani Louk‚ the German-Israeli tattoo artist who was kidnapped by Hamas.Gadot continued: "Yet two months later women are still hostage to these rapists and the world has failed to call this situation what it is: an urgent emergency that demands a decisive response.""This is our moment as women and allies of women to act. I am beseeching all those who have done so much for women’s rights globally – from the UN‚ to the human rights community‚ to please join in the demand that Hamas release every single woman hostage immediately – not after the next round of international mediation‚ not after another day. These women cannot survive another moment of this horror."Israel and Hamas reached a temporary truce in late November‚ which resulted in 100 hostages being released by Hamas. However‚ the fight resumed shortly after‚ with Israel carrying out airstrikes in Gaza. It does not appear that further ceasefire agreements are in the works‚ as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered officers from the Mossad intelligence agency to get out of Qatar‚ according to the Independent.Mossad released a statement following the development‚ saying: "The Hamas terror organization did not fulfill its part of the agreement‚ which included the release of all children and women according to a list that was provided to Hamas and approved by it.”Israel has suggested that there is nothing that will stop the nation from completely annihilating Hamas in Gaza‚ which has raised concerns about the number of civilian deaths in Gaza since the war began.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

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